Islamic Verdicts - Volume IV

The Book of Hajj Rites 

The acts of Hajj

The Actions on the Day of Sacrifice and the ruling on doing some things first and delaying some things in the order of these Acts

Q: What is better for the Hajj pilgrim concerning the acts of the day of Sacrifice (i.e., the 'Eid, the 10th of Thul-Hijjah), and is it permissible to do some things first and delay others?

A: The Sunnah during the day of Sacrifice is to stone the pillars by stoning the pillar of Al-'Aqabah, which is the one in the direction of Makkah. It should be stoned with seven stones, each stone being thrown separately and the Takbeer (saying 'Allahu Akbar) should be said with each stone. Then, the person should sacrifice his animal if he has an animal with him. Then he should shave his head or shorten it (i.e., get a hair cut), and shaving it is better. Then he should perform Tawaf and Say if he is required to perform a Say. This is better, as the Prophet (Salallahou 'aleyhi wa salam) did it (in this order). For verily he (Salallahou 'aleyhi wa salam) stoned, then slaughtered, then shaved his head, then went to Makkah and performed Tawaf. This order is better: stoning, then slaughter­ing, then shaving the hair or shortening it, then performing Tawaf and Say - if the person is required to make a Sa'y. If the person does some of them before others (out of sequence), there is no problem with that. So, if he slaughters before stoning, or performs Tawaful-Ifadhah before stoning, or he shaves his hair before stoning, or he shaves his hair before slaughtering, all of this is fine. The Prophet (Salallahou 'aleyhi wa salam) was asked about whoever did some things before others or delayed some things and he said: "No problem, no problem" (Al-Bukhari no. 1721 and Muslim no. 1306).

Ash-Shaykh Ibn Baz

The meaning of the first and second Phase of removing the Ihram

Q: What is meant by the terms the first removal of Ihram and the second removal of Ihram?

A: What is meant by the term the first removal of Ihram is when a person does two of three acts, by either stoning and shaving his hair or cutting it, or stoning and making Tawaf, or making Tawaf and shaving his hair or cutting it. This is the first removal of Ihram. If the person does all three acts: stoning, Tawaf, and shaving the hair or cutting it, this is the second

removal of Ihram. If the person only does two, he may wear a seamed garment, apply perfume and everything that was unlawful for him becomes lawful for him, except sexual intercourse. Then, when he does the third thing and completes whatever remained due upon him, it becomes lawful for him to have sex. Some of the scholars went with the view that when the person stones the pillar on the day of the 'Eid, the first removal of Ihram is correct for him, and this is a good view. If the person does it, there is no sin upon him, if Allah wills. However, the best and safest view is that he should not make haste (to remove Ihram) until he does a second act along with stoning after it, such as shaving the head or shortening it, or adding to it (the stoning) the Tawaf. This is due to a Hadith of 'A'ishah (Radiyallahou 'an-a) even though there is some doubt about its chain of narration (i.e., its authenticity), that the Prophet (Salallahou 'aleyhi wa salam) said: "When you have stoned and shaved your heads, indeed perfume and everything else is permissible for you, except women (i.e., for sex)" (Ahmad 6: 143).

This is also due to other Hadiths that have been related regarding this issue. It is also because after the Prophet (Salallahou 'aleyhi wa salam) stoned the pillar on the day of the 'Eid, slaughtered his animal and shaved his head, 'A'ishah (Radiyallahou 'an-a) applied perfume to him. The apparent meaning of the text is that he did not apply perfume until after he had stoned the pillar, slaughtered and shaved his head. Therefore, it is better and safer that the person does not remove Ihram for the first removal of Ihram until after he has stoned the pillar and shaved his head or shortened his hair. Also, if it is easy, the person may sacrifice the animal after stoning the pillar and before shaving his head. That is better and it contains a combining of understanding between the Hadiths.

Ash-Shaykh Ibn Baz