Ruling on someone who ends his Ihraam without shaving or shortening his hair due to ignorance

19-1-2014 | IslamWeb

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 previous two ‘Umrahs?
Answer:

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.

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 pertaining to the first ‘Umrah. Thus, you must remove any stitched clothing, avoid the actions that are prohibited 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 will have completed your first ‘Umrah. You are not required to do anything regarding the infringements of Ihraam you have committed during this period because you were ignorant of the ruling. The ignorant person is excused regarding all actions that are forbidden in a state of Ihraam as stated by Shaykh Al-Islam ibn Taymiyyah may Allaah have mercy upon him.

The second and third ‘Umrahs are both of no effect. This is based upon the chosen opinion of the four Imaams excluding Abu Haneefah may Allaah have mercy upon them. They stated that whoever enters a state of Ihraam for ‘Umrah, then he does so for another ‘Umrah before completing the first one, only one ‘Umrah is to be completed and 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.  

Allaah Knows best.

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