What is the ruling on covering the head during Hajj for a sick person?

Question:
A man entered Makkah for 'Umrah and placed a cap on his head because he has an illness in his head. Also, on the Day of 'Arafah, he will place the cap on his head. What is the ruling? Does he have to offer three sacrificial animals or just one?

Answer:
If a person in ihram needs to cover his head due to an illness or a head injury that requires a covering, there is no harm in doing so. He owes a fidyah (ransom payment) for this. He is given a choice in this fidyah: he may either fast for three days, or feed six poor people, giving each poor person half a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of food, or slaughter a sheep. This is the fidyah for covering the head. He is given a choice among three things: either he fasts for three days, or he feeds six poor people, giving each poor person half a sa' of food, or he slaughters a sheep and distributes it to the poor people of the Haram (the sacred precinct), the poor people of the Haram. He covers his head out of necessity, and there is no harm in that. If he covers his head during 'Umrah and covers his head during Hajj, he owes two fidyahs: one fidyah for covering the head during 'Umrah and one fidyah for covering the head during Hajj. Yes.