I ask about the ruling on Hajj and ‘Umrah in these days, when the people’s intentions have differed concerning going to perform those great rites. I ask Allaah to forgive me for my question. But the overwhelming crowd and intermixing between men and women to the extent that they may touch one another cause me to strongly hesitate to go and perform Hajj and ‘Umrah.

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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

It goes without saying that the difference and even corruption of people’s intentions and the shameful intermixing of some male and female pilgrims during Tawaaf (circumambulation) around the House is not a reason for you to refrain from performing Hajj and ‘Umrah. A righteous woman could perform Tawaaf from behind men and isolate herself from them as much as possible. That is what has been enjoined upon them by the Sharee'ah. As difficult as this might be, one will receive a reward equal to the difficulty that the faces. The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to ‘Aa'ishah about the reward of her ‘Umrah, “You will get a reward as much as is equal to your expenses or the hardship that you suffer (in performing it).” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Commenting on it, An-Nawawi says, “This highlights the fact that the reward of the acts of worship is multiplied by the increase of fatigue and spending.”

Allaah Knows best.