Couldn’t Complete Umrah after Ihram: What to do?

19 October, 2018
Q As-salamu `alaykum. After going to miqat and wearing ihram, I was unable to perform Umrah. What should I do?


Wa `alaykum as-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.


In this fatwa:
If you intended to take off the ihram attire, then you do not have to offer any expiation. But if there was any obstacle that prevented you from completing your Umrah, you have to offer the expiation which is slaughtering a sacrificial animal or fasting for ten days.


It all depends. If while assuming ­the ihram you had stipulated the condition that you would take off the ihram when facing an obstruction, then you need not to do anything by way of expiation.

But if you did not stipulate such a condition then; namely, if you were prevented from completing it because of circumstances beyond your control, you need to offer a sacrifice. If you cannot afford to offer a sacrifice, you may expiate that by fasting for ten days or feeding the poor.

You should also make up for the Umrah you have missed if you can afford to do so. According to Imam Abu Hanifah and Imam Malik, if you cannot afford to offer a sacrifice, you are excused and you do not need to do anything else.

Allah Almighty knows best.
