55)    Many pilgrims nowadays go to an extreme in asking others to do the stoning for them, without a valid reason; this is wrong. If one, whether a man or a woman, fears overcrowding, he or she may go to throw the pebbles at times when there are not as many people, such as during the night.

56)    [Following] the sequence in throwing the pebbles at the three Jamaraat is required: the first Jamrah (the Sughra), then the middle one and finally, the Jamrah of Al-’Aqabah.

57)    While stoning, some people start abusing, cursing and throwing their shoes, umbrellas or big stones, believing that the devil is tied to the pillar in the center of the bowl. This is wrong and unacceptable.

58)    One has fulfilled the necessary spending of the night at Mina, when he stays there for most of it. For example, when the total hours of the night are eleven, a pilgrim is required to stay in Mina for more than five and a half hours.

59)    It is lawful for the pilgrim who plans to leave early, to hasten his or her departure from Mina, before sundown, on the 12th day of Thul-Hijjah after throwing the pebbles. If the sun sets while he is still in Mina, he has to spend the night there and do the stoning for the next day. However, if he had already made preparations to leave, but was delayed because of the crowds, for instance, he is permitted to leave after sunset and there is no harm at all.

60)    After throwing the pebbles of the 12th day of Thul-Hijjah, if a man is in a hurry to leave, he must exit Mina before sunset. But, if he wishes to prolong his stay, it is better; in this case, he would spend the night in Mina and, on the next day, the 13th, he must do the stoning after the sun declines from the middle of the sky, but before sunset. That is because the Days of Tashreeq end at sundown on the 13th of Thul-Hijjah.

61)    Every year, there is overcrowding and huge masses of people are injured in Mina near the Jamaraat, at noon on the 12th of Thul-Hijjah. Therefore, it is necessary to alert the pilgrim who hastens to depart, that he is not required to stone at midday, but is allowed to do it afterward when the crowds have thinned.

62)    If the sun sets on the 12th of Thul-Hijjah while one is still in Mina, he or she must spend the night there and throw the pebbles of the next day, unless prior preparations had been made to leave and one was delayed due to unforeseen reasons, in which case, he or she is permitted to leave after sundown, without a problem.

63)    When one is about to leave Makkah, he or she is required to perform Tawaaf Al-Wadaa’ (farewell circumambulation), by circling the Ka’bah seven times. It is an act of Sunnah to then perform two Rak’ahs behind the Maqaam of Ibraaheem at the conclusion of the Tawaaf.

64)    The woman who is in a state of menstruation or post-partum bleeding is not required to perform Tawaaf Al-Wadaa‘. This is supported by the narration of Ibn ‘Abbaas which states: “People were commanded to do Tawaaf immediately before leaving the House of Allah. Nevertheless, a menstruating woman was excused.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

65)    A Summary of the Pillars and Obligations of ‘Umrah and Hajj:

The pillars of ‘Umrah:

     a)    Ihraam (ritual consecration).

     b)    Tawaaf.

     c)    Sa’y.

The obligations of ‘Umrah:

     a)    Assuming Ihraam from the Meeqaat.

     b)    Shaving or trimming the hair.

The pillars of Hajj:

     a)    Ihraam.

     b)    Standing in [the grounds of] ‘Arafah.

     c)    Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah.

     d)    Sa’y.

The obligations of Hajj:

     a)    Assuming Ihraam from the Meeqaat.

     b)    Staying in ‘Arafah until sunset for the one who stands at daytime.

     c)    Spending the night in Muzdalifah.

     d)    Spending the nights of the Days of Tashreeq in Mina.

     e)    Throwing the pebbles [only the Jamrah of Al-’Aqabah on the Day of Nahr and all three sequentially, during the Days of Tashreeq).

     f)    Shaving or trimming the hair.

     g)    Slaughtering the sacrificial animal for pilgrims who are performing Tamattu’ and Qiraan Hajj. This is not required of those doing Ifraad.

     h)    Performing Tawaaf Al-Wadaa’.

66)    The woman is forbidden to don tailored accessories for the face and hands. She is not permitted to cover her face with a Niqaab, burqa or yashmak (all three are face veils that are tied behind the head). Rather, she is permitted to veil using other things, such as [by extending] an ordinary head cover [over her face]. Also, while she is not allowed to wear gloves, she is required to cover them before non-Mahram men (i.e., non-related men she is allowed to marry) by entering the hands within her gown. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar related: “The Prophet said, 'The woman in a state of Ihraam must wear neither the Niqaab nor gloves.’” [Al-Bukhari]

Some women mistakenly believe that it is permissible for them in the state of Ihraam to uncover their faces before non-Mahram men. This is erroneous, for it is, instead, obligatory to veil the face. This is substantiated by the following proofs:

     *  Faatimah bint Al-Munthir recounted: “We used to cover our faces when we were in the state of Ihraam with Asmaa’ bint Abu Bakr.” [Maalik, Saheeh]

     *  Asmaa’ bint Abu Bakr herself, mentions: “We used to cover our faces [in Hajj] in front of [non-related] men. We also used to comb our hair when we were in Ihraam.” [Al-Haakim and Ath-Thahabi, Saheeh –Al-Albaani]

     *  It was narrated by ‘Aa’ishah that she said: "The woman in a state of Ihraam is permitted to wear whatever types of clothes she wants, unless it is scented with Wars (type of perfume) or saffron. She is not allowed to wear the burqa or don a [face] veil; rather, she can draw her garment over her face if she wills." [Al-Bayhaqi, Saheeh]

This report asserts that women are forbidden from wearing face veils that she ties behind her head; not from covering itself, as stated by Shaykhul-Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn Al-Qayyim .

As for the Hadeeth that reads: "A man's Ihraam is in his head and a woman's Ihraam is in her face", it is inauthentic. Ibn Al-Qayyim declared such a Hadeeth as false.

Many women who perform ‘Umrah uncover their faces whilst in a state of Ihraam and after it, so much so, that this practice has become prevalent in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. Based on the aforementioned proofs, as well as others, a woman must know that doing that in front of non-Mahram men is prohibited in the Sharee’ah. [If she has done it], she is required to repent to Allah The Almighty and cover her face before those who are not related to her.

67)    Many women do not wear the Jilbaab (an outer garment). They wear only a dress or trousers, believing that the Hijaab refers only to wearing the head cover. This is an invalid understanding of the concept of Hijaab, for the believing woman is required to don the Jilbaab when she is in front of non-Mahram men. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments. That is more suitable that they will be known and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 33: 59]

It was narrated on the authority of Umm Salamah that "when the verse “to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments….” was revealed, the women of the Ansaar (supporters in Madeenah) covered themselves entirely with [black] garments and went about looking like crows were perched on their heads.” [Abu Daawood, Saheeh]

Moreover, Umm ‘Atiyyah recounts: “We were ordered to go out [to the mosque for ‘Eed prayers] and to take along with us the menstruating women and the virgins, as well. The menstruating women could participate in the religious gathering and invocation of Muslims, but were to keep away from their place of prayer. A woman said, 'O Messenger of Allah, but some of us do not have an outer garment.' He replied, 'Let her fellow women give her an outer cloak.’” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

68)    Some women, particularly among those who come from foreign countries, tend to beautify themselves on the day of ‘Eed, wear makeup and pass by men wearing attractive clothes. They falsely believe that this expresses [their] happiness and joy of ‘Eed. They do not realize that this is one of the greatest reasons behind mischief in Hajj. As narrated by Abu Hurayrah the Prophet said: “I have not left behind a more harmful temptation to men than women.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

69)    Some people only trim parts of their hair from the front and back of the head. Cutting it this much is not enough; rather, it is obligatory to include hair from the entire head, when shaving or shortening. Allah The Almighty [implies this when He] Says (what means): {….with your heads shaved and [hair] shortened…..} [Quran 48:27]

70)    The menstruating woman is permitted to assume Ihraam for ‘Umrah, but she must not circumambulate the Ka’bah unless she is pure. If she fears that her family will leave Makkah while she is still menstruating and she is obliged to return with them, she should not initially assume Ihraam and enter Makkah without it. Then, if her family returns while she is still on her period, she can return with them and would not be blameworthy, because she was not in Ihraam in the first place. If she does become clean in Makkah, she can enter into a state of Ihraam for ‘Umrah like the people of Makkah do: from the nearest place, such as At-Tan‘eem. Then, she may perform Tawaaf, Sa’ and shorten her hair. This is the case because she passed the Meeqaat and was not sure that she could perform ‘Umrah.

If, however, she went beyond the Meeqaat while she was determined to perform ‘Umrah, but she did not want to remain in Ihraam for some days until her purification, she is required to return to the Meeqaat and assume Ihraam from there.

If she assumed Ihraam for Hajj, she has to do all the rituals of Hajj, except the Tawaaf. When she becomes pure, she can perform Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah. ‘Aa’ishah, the wife of the Prophet said: “Safiyyah bint Huyayy, a wife of the Prophet got her menses during the course of Hajjat Al-Wadaa’. Thereupon, the Prophet remarked, 'She will probably delay us. ‘I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, she has already performed Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah.' At that, the Prophet told her she may depart.’” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

71)    It is impermissible to pass in front of one who is performing prayer when he is leading the congregation or praying alone. It is okay, however, to pass in between rows in front of those praying behind an Imam [leading prayer]. When one wants to offer the prayer, he should avoid places where people walk. He is also required to keep a Sutrah (barrier) [before him] and draw himself closer to it, such as a wall, pillar, shelves of the copies of the Quran, etc. Those who pass beyond the Sutrah do not harm him [or his prayer]. The distance between him and the Sutrah should not be shorter than an arm-length. Abu Sa‘eed narrated: “I heard the Prophet say: 'If anybody amongst you is praying behind something as a Sutrah and somebody tries to pass in front of him, then he should hold him off; if he persists, he should use force against him for he is a devil.’” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Points of Caution for Pilgrims - V