Did not complete the rituals of ‘Umrah because of heavy rain Fatwa No: 132550
- Fatwa Date:25-2-2010
Assalam alaykum, I wanted to perform Umrah and entered into the state of ihram, but could once I started from house (Jeddah) there was heavy rain so I did not go to Makkah to complete the Umrah. What is the expiation?
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
If a Muslim assumes the state of Ihraam for ‘Umrah, then it is not acceptable for him to come out of the state of Ihraam until he finishes his (‘Umrah) rites. Therefore, you are still on the state of Ihraam and you are obliged to go to Makkah, perform Tawaaf and Sa’y and then you may come out of the state of Ihraam.
Nonetheless, you are forgiven for the prohibitions of Ihraam that you had committed before performing the ‘Umrah because you did not know the ruling concerning this and you do not have to offer any expiation as Allaah Says (what means): {And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended. And ever Is Allaah Forgiving and Merciful.}[Quran 33:5]
Some scholars are of the view that the prohibitions are of two different types:
a) Prohibitions that are acts of Taraffuh (i.e. acts done for the purpose of comforting oneself with): like applying perfume; in this case if a person does this out of forgetfulness, he is not required to do anything.
b) Prohibitions that are acts of Itlaaf (i.e. acts done as a way of removing something from the body): like cutting the hair, clipping nails, if a person did this, he is obliged to expiate for each kind of these prohibitions, by either fasting [three days], giving charity (feeding six needy persons) or offering a sacrifice (to slaughter a sheep or goat).
Ibn Taymiyyah is of the view that there is no expiation for the one who has sexual intercourse (with a spouse) out of forgetfulness.
Allaah Knows best.