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Idhtibaa’ in Tawaaf and Purity in Sa’yy

Question

Asslamualaikum, I did umrah with my mother and she was on wheel chair. While doing tawaf i forgot to uncover my right shoulder i think in 3 or 4 rounds later i remembered so i uncovered it and cosmpleted twaf of umrah. Is there any expiation to be paid? one Person saying that you will have to pay Sadqah but i think may be his opinion is wrong.Also during safah marwah sai one person hit wheelchair on my leg so their was very small cut with blood seen but not flowing is their any expiation?

Answer

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  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.{C}

Your Tawaaf (circumambulating the Ka’bah) is valid and your Sa’y (going between Safa and Marwa) is also valid. You do not have to pay an expiation because of not observing Idhtibaa’ (uncovering the right shoulder) in Tawaaf, whether you did so out of forgetfulness or deliberately, because it is only recommended and not an obligation.

The Fiqh Encyclopedia reads: “Idhtibaa' is a recommended.” [End of quote]

Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him was asked (as in Majmoo’ Al-Fataawa): What is the ruling on a person who failed to observe Idhtibaa'?

He replied by saying: “Idhtibaa' is when the person who is performing Tawaaf uncovers his right shoulder (by placing the upper garment under his right arm’s pit), then places the garment over his left shoulder. This is recommended act during the arrival Tawaaf in particular (when one first arrives in Makkah), but it is not an obligation. Thus, there is no harm if a person does not do so. Idhtibaa' is only legislated during Tawaaf. If a person finishes his Tawaaf, then he must cover his shoulder before he prays the two Rak’ahs after Tawaaf. Idhtibaa' is observed throughout the seven rounds of Tawaaf, unlike Raml (walking with a fast pace during Tawaaf), which is only done during the first three rounds. However, there is no harm on the person who does not observe Idhtibaa' (he is not required to do anything).” [End of quote]

Also, you are not required to do anything because of the blood that you had when performing Sa’yy. Ritual purity (ablution or Ghusl) and removing impurities (from one’s body or clothes) are not required for Sa’yy.

Ibn Qudaamah  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said in his book Al-Mughni:

Most scholars are of the view that it is not a condition to be in a state of ritual purity when going between Safa and Marwa [..] our evidence is the saying of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) to 'Aa'ishah, when she had menses: “Perform all the obligations that the pilgrim performs, but do not perform Tawaaf around the House.” [..] removing impurities (from one’s body or clothes) and concealing one’s ‘Awrah are also not a condition for Sa’y. This is because since it is not a condition to ritually purify oneself (by performing ablution or Ghusl), which is something emphatic, then it is with greater reason that these other matters are not required.” [End of quote; summarized]

For more benefit on Idhtibaa’, please refer to Fatwa 91154.

Allah knows best.

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