Q.        Two persons were coming for ‘Umra by airplane from their home country.  They made the intention to make ‘Umrah in their home country, but they did not put on the Ihram clothes until they arrived at Jeddah.  Is their ‘Umrah still valid?  

A.        Many people who come for ‘Umrah or Hajj by airplane, perform the Ihram rituals at the airport in Jeddah, and this is not allowable, because the Prophet (pbuh) when he fixed the Miqats for every direction, said: “They are for those who come through them”.   During the reign of the Khalifah Omar,  Muslims coming from Iraq complained to him that Qarn al-Manazil, which is their Miqat, was not on their way, he said:  “Make your Ihram from the place closest to Qarn al’Manazil and which falls on your way”.  This leads one to conclude that a person coming by airplane should make Ihram when he knows he is nearing the Miqat, and should not postpone it until he descends from the airplane.  A person, who has started Ihram for Umrah from Jeddah instead of from the Miqat, should go back to the Miqat place and enter Ihram once again.  If however it is not possible for him to go back to the Miqat, then he makes Ihram from Jeddah and upon arriving in Makkah he should slaughter a sheep and distribute it to the poor as atonement.  If he cannot afford to buy a sheep, he should ask forgiveness from Allah and repent, no atonement is on him and his ‘Umrah is valid.  

Q.        I like to wear makeup and I wonder if I can wear lipstick, powder etc. during Hajj?  What about wearing my jewelry?  Can I use my regular soap and shampoo? I also like to use wet-ones just about anytime, can I do so in a state of Ihram?  

A.        In the state of Ihram you are not allowed to wear any makeup nor Kohl.  As for jewels, rings bracelets etc. they can be worn as long as they do not show.  It is better not to wear any at a time and place of worship.  You cannot use your regular perfumed soap or shampoo, nor use any wet-ones.  

Q.        What if my menses come while I am doing Hajj?  

A.        If the menses come before the Tawaf Al-Ifadhah, you should wait till the end of your menses, for the Tawaf Al-Wida’a, the last Tawaf before leaving Mekka, is obligatory, but the one with menses who must leave, is exempted. The Tawaf of Ifadha is one of the pillars of Hajj, thus Hajj is not valid without it.