Ruling of Performing ‘Umrah during Hajj Months Fatwa No: 85373
- Fatwa Date:31-12-2002
What is the Hukum if I perform an Umrah during the months of Hajj (Ashhur-Alhajj) and I'm intending to perform Hajj in the same year.
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.
The Hajj months are Shawwal - Dhul Qi’dah and the first 10 days of Thul- Hijjah. This is the explanation given by Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, of the verse (which means): {The Hajj (pilgrimage) is (in) the well-known (lunar year) months (i.e. the 10th month, the 11th month and the first ten days of the 12th month of the Islamic calendar; i.e., two months and ten days)…..} [Quran 2:197]
Performing ‘Umrah during the Hajj months and in the same year performing Hajj is called Hajj Tamattu’ and it is lawful. Allah says (what means): {And complete the Hajj and 'umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals.} [Quran 2:196]
The person who performs ‘Umrah in the months of Hajj has to slaughter a sheep as a sacrifice in Makkah. If he does not find a sheep, then he has to fast 10 days, three of which are during the Hajj days and the remaining 7 after he returns back home. Allah says (what means): {And complete the Hajj and 'umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs 'umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Haram. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty.} [Quran 2:196]
Scholars say it is more reliable to fast the three days before the day of ‘Arafah because fasting after the day of ‘Arafah might cause some weakness to the person preventing him from multiplying Du'aa’ (supplications).
As for fasting the days of Tashreeq (11th,12th, and 13th of Thul-Hijjah) it is lawful. ‘Aa’ishah and Ibn ‘Umar said: “Nobody was allowed to fast on the days of Tashreeq except those who could not afford the Hady (sacrifice).” [Al-Bukhari]
But if you return back to your country after finishing ‘Umrah, and then you intend to perform Hajj during these months, in this case, you should enter a new state of Ihram for Hajj, and this time you no longer have to give Tamattu’ Hady (offering a sacrifice). The jurists established that the blood of Hady is no longer due (the person is no longer asked to slaughter an animal, a sheep, or a cow, or a camel) when the person moves to the Meeqat from which he first intended ‘Umrah or to a similar distance.
Allah knows best.