Question

I performed the rituals of ‘Umrah and, upon ending my state of Ihraam, I clipped my nails but did not shorten my hair. This happened in my first and second ‘Umrahs but in the third, I shortened my hair upon ending my state of Ihraam. What is the ruling on my first two ‘Umrahs?

Fatwa

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

According to the majority of scholars, shaving or shortening the hair is one of the rituals of ‘Umrah and it is obligatory according to the preponderant opinion.

Therefore, you have not yet ended your state of Ihraam that is related to the first ‘Umrah. Thus, you must remove any form-fitting clothes and avoid the actions that you are prohibited from while in the state of Ihraam until you shave or shorten your hair - even if you are in your homeland. When you shave or shorten your hair, you would have then completed your first ‘Umrah.

However, you are not required to do anything regarding the violations of Ihraam you have committed during this period because you were ignorant of the ruling. The ignorant person is excused regarding all the Ihraam violations he commits whilst in the state of Ihraam as stated by Shaykh Al-Islam ibn Taymiyyah .

The second and third ‘Umrahs are both of no effect. This is based upon the chosen opinion of the four Imaams excluding Abu Haneefah . They stated that whoever enters the state of Ihraam for ‘Umrah and then does so for another ‘Umrah before completing the first one, then only the first ‘Umrah is counted and must be completed. However, he is not required to do anything regarding the second one such as offering a Fidyah (i.e. compensation), making it up or anything else.

Allah Knows best.