Minor termination of Ihraam

11-1-2010 | IslamWeb

Question:

When can a pilgrim terminate the state of Ihraam? We will return home after staying the night in Muzdalifah and before throwing the pebbles. Our home lies outside the boundaries of the Sacred Precincts.

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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.

Terminating the state of Ihraam for Hajj is of two stages: minor termination and major termination. After minor termination one is permitted to do  everything that was forbidden for the pilgrim except for having sexual intercourse and the related things, such as concluding a marital contract, etc. On the other hand, the major termination makes permissible everything that was forbidden for the pilgrim including having sexual intercourse.

Scholars differ as to Hajj actions whereby the minor termination can be attained. Some of them said that the minor termination can be attained upon performing two out of three rites, which are:

Throwing the pebbles.

Shaving (or shortening) the head for men, and trimming for women.

Performing Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah along with performing Sa‘y between As-Safa and Al-Marwah by the person whom performing Sa‘y is due upon him.

The major termination is attained by completing the third rite, as professed by many scholars. This is the predominant opinion because ‘Umar was proven to have declared the same view. [Maalik: Al-Muwatta’]

However, there are other scholars who said that the minor termination of Ihraam can be attained by throwing the pebbles, and the major termination can be attained by performing Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah after that.

It is, however, more cautious to adopt the first opinion because it is proven to have been authentically narrated on the authority of ‘Umar while the authenticity of the narrations that support the other opinion are questionable.

Finally, if you go back home before you fulfill the conditions of minor termination of Ihraam, then you remain in the state of Ihraam, and you must not deem lawful anything that is forbidden for a pilgrim who is in the state of Ihraam until you have fulfilled the   abovementioned conditions . You should note that spending  the night in Mina during the days of throwing the pebbles is obligatory.

Allaah Knows best.