Allah Says (what means): {…But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals….} [Quran 2:196] This sentence in the verse is conjoined to the opening sentence of the verse: {And complete the Hajj and 'Umrah for Allah...}.

After commanding Muslims to perform Hajj and 'Umrah, Allah stated the rulings on the impediments that prevent the person in the state of Ihraam (sacral state) from completing the rites of Hajj or 'Umrah, by saying (what means): {...But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals....}. The word prevention means absolute restriction, as Allah Says regarding the poor who have been restricted from going out to perform Jihaad (armed struggle) in the Cause of Allah due to their poverty (what means): {[Charity is] for the poor who have been restricted for the cause of Allah…} [Quran 2:273] 

The scholars have different opinions regarding the issue of the prevention of the person in the state of Ihraam, and whether it is confined to being besieged by an enemy, (i.e., the person in the state of Ihraam  is permitted to end his state of Ihraam only when facing an enemy) or if it includes any other preventions:

     *  Some scholars said that prevention here is confined to facing an enemy. Hence, sickness, loss of money or losing the way is not considered prevention. This opinion is the opinion of Ibn ‘Abbaas and Ibn ‘Umar in addition to Az-Zuhri and others.

     *  Other scholars say that prevention is more general than being facing an enemy, but it includes whatever may prevent the person in the state of Ihraam form completing the rituals of Hajj or 'Umrah. They supported their opinion by adducing the following Hadeeth:

Al-Hajjaaj bin ‘Amr Al-Ansaari said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: ‘Whoever suffers from fracture, sickness or limpness, then his Ihraam is over and he has to perform another (compensatory) Hajj.’ I mentioned this to Ibn ‘Abbaas and Abu Hurayrah and they affirmed it.” [Ahmad, Abu Daawood, An-Nasaa’i, At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah]

Ath-Thawri said, “Preventives include any harmful thing not just the enemy.”

“…then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial ‎animals [Hady]” What is meant by {with ease}in this verse is whatever is available. The sacrificial animals here include camels, cows, goats and sheep. According to the opinion of the majority of ‎ scholars, each person in the state of Ihraam who has been prevented must offer a sheep as a sacrificial animal. ‎However, a camel suffices as a sacrificial animal for seven, and similarly ‎a cow.‎ This is the opinion of Imam Abu Haneefah, As-Shaafi’i, Maalik and Ahmad .

The rationale behind offering a sacrificial animal in the case of prevention from completing Hajj is to achieve as many benefits of Hajj as possible. Hence, as long as perfecting Hajj has become impossible, then the charity for the poor of Makkah and the neighboring areas should not be abandoned.

Allah Says (what means): {…And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter….} [Quran 2:196]

The sentence {And do not shave your heads} in this verse is conjoined to  {And complete the Hajj and 'Umrah for Allah} and not conjoined to {But if you are prevented}.

The meaning of this verse is that it is prohibited for whoever assumed the state of Ihraam for Hajj or 'Umrah to shave his head until he finishes the rites of Hajj and 'Umrah.

Allah Says (what means): {…And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head …} [Quran 2:196]

The illness mentioned in this verse, which necessitates shaving the head, includes that which affects the body or the head itself. As for {...or has an ailment of the head …}, ailment here refers to the unbearable dirtiness or lice infestation that harms one’s head. Ka‘b bin ‘Ujrah said, “I was carried to the Prophet while lice was falling on my face. The Prophet said: ‘I did not think that you have reached to such a degree of harm. Can you afford to slaughter a sheep (as a ransom for shaving your head)?’ I said, 'No.' He said: ‘Then fast for three days, or feed six poor persons by giving half a Saa‘ of food (for each) and shave your head.' So this verse was revealed specifically for me, and its rule applies generally for all of you (Hereafter).” [Al-Bukhari]

This verse implied one of the finest Quranic styles, that is, refraining from using improper words, as the verse used the word (ailment) to refer to whatever infests the hair of the person in the state of Ihraam, such as lice.

Allah Says (what means): {…then (make) a ransom by fast or donation, or ritual (sacrifice)….} [Quran 2:196]

In this verse, Allah stated the ransom that must be paid by the person in the state of Ihraam who shaves his head before finishing the rites of Hajj, and made the kinds of ransom optional. This is because “or” in the verse means giving the person the freedom to choose between two or more matters. Also, Ibn ’Abbaas said, “If ‘or’ (is used) then any (of the choices) taken are permissible.” This narration on the authority of Ibn ’Abbaas is what the majority of scholars agreed upon in this matter, i.e., the person in the state of Ihraam has the option either too fast, slaughter a sheep or feed the poor.

Based on the Hadeeth of Ka‘b bin ‘Ujrah the person in the state of Ihraam must fast for three days, or feed six poor persons by giving half ‎a Saa‘ of food for each, or slaughter a sheep. The Islamic jurists call this the Fidyah of Atha (ransom for ailment).