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Ask About Islam (Q & A Session): Hajj Misconceptions

Zainab bint Younus
09 August, 2017

As the Hajj season approaches, many people have questions about Hajj. Why do we do this difficult pilgrimage? Why only one Hajj per year? Why not do more than one so there is a smaller crowd? Why can’t non-Muslims attend? And the list goes on and on.

 

Our consultant, Zainab bint Younus, will be ready to answer your questions LIVE at 9:00p.m. Makkah time (6pm GMT, 11am PST). Join us, or send your questions in advance!

Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017 | 21:00 - 23:00 GMT

Session is over.

Saudi Arabia is based on Wahhabism, something most moderate Muslims stand against. Aren’t we building up their cruel empire by giving them all this money? They are like the ancient tribe of Quraish, taking advantage of the goodness of the pilgrims.



The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is certainly a country plagued by many issues, on both a political and religious level.

 

However, one should also recognize the good that they do, particularly with regards to facilitating Hajj and ‘Umrah and doing their best to ensure cleanliness, safety, and accessibility to whomever visits the Haramain (sacred sanctuaries of Makkah and Madinah).

 

Whether we agree with Saudi’s politics and interpretations of theology or not, the reality is that they are in charge of the holy land – Allah in His Wisdom knows why.

 

One cannot simply choose to not do Hajj because they dislike Saudi’s policies.

 

On a personal and individual level, one must make the sincere intention to do Hajj for the Sake of Allah, and do what is necessary and required.

 

As for the Saudi government and what they do, then that lies between them and Allah, and they will be held accountable on the Day of Judgment just as everyone else will.

If someone actually lives in Mecca or Medina, do they get the same reward of participating in Hajj as someone who travels hundreds or thousands of miles away?



While there is no clear or specific text regarding this, it should be noted that Hajj involves many, many aspects – everything from how hard one works to acquire the halal finances to go to Hajj, to the effort they put into going there, to how it is performed every step of the way.

 

A person who lives in Makkah and performs Hajj every year may find themselves walk away empty-handed each time due to a shortcoming on their part; similarly, someone who travels many hundreds of thousands of miles to perform Hajj may also discover that their Hajj counted for nothing.

 

On a positive note, however, the general ruling in Islam is that the greater the effort or hardship that one endures for the sake of worshipping Allah, obeying Him and pleasing Him, the greater the reward.

 

The analogy is similar to that which was mentioned by RasulAllah when he said that the one who experiences difficulty in reciting the Qur’an receives double the reward of someone who is easily proficient at it.

Can women also shave their heads during Hajj? Why should we be left out of this incredibly renewing experience if we want to?



It is considered makruh (disliked) for women to shave their heads except out of necessity (i.e. health/ medical reasons).

 

RasulAllah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) never told women to shave their heads when exiting Ihraam, nor were his wives or female Companions known to do so.

 

If it had been something praiseworthy, beneficial, or recommended for Muslim women to do, then it most certainly would have been mentioned in the ahadith or practised by the earliest generations of Muslims.

 

Even for men, it is not required that they absolutely must shave their heads; rather, they are supposed to cut it and it is recommended that they shave it.

 

In fact, there is a specific hadith of RasulAllah where he said:

 

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Women do not have to shave their heads; rather women have to cut their hair.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood)

It was narrated that ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) told women not to shave their heads. (Narrated by at-Tirmidhi)

1) Can you wipe your face with a towel? 2) Can you chew mint chewing gum? (I always chew gum while travelling to prevent sickness.) 3) Can you wash your clothes with detergent? What about non-bio which contains less than 5% perfume? 4) Can you use natural moisturisers (for dry skin) such as pure coconut oil or vitamin e oil?



One main issue that comes up often with regards to Hajj is about what is permissible to do and use for cleanliness.

 

It is definitely permissible to use cloths or towels, whether dry or dripped in water, to wipe or wash one’s face.

 

While the basic ruling is that it is prohibited to use perfumes during the state of Ihraam, it is understood that there are other products that are used that – while not intended to be scented – contain certain perfumes or fragrances within them. This includes soap, toothpaste, and the like.

 

It is urged that the Muhrim strongly avoid using scented soaps and lotions, and toothpaste insofar as one is able to avoid a scented one, but it is not completely prohibited (especially with regards to something like toothpaste.

 

With regards to chewing gum, some scholars are of the opinion that it is preferred to avoid it if it contains a strong fragrance, but others consider it to be permissible as it is a type of edible product.

 

As for washing one’s clothes with detergent and using moisturisers, yes, it is permissible to do both, with emphasis on avoiding perfumed or strongly scented products as much as possible.

 

And Allah knows best.