The ruling on one who stayed in Jeddah without intending to perform 'Umrah, and then entered the state of ihram for 'Umrah several days later

The questioner : Peace be upon you.

The Shaykh : Peace be upon you.

The questioner : If you please, Your Eminence the Shaykh. Yes, I have a question about 'Umrah. Last year, we performed 'Umrah during the vacation.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : We performed 'Umrah last year.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : We were heading to Makkah, meaning we did not intend to perform 'Umrah immediately, nor did we intend to travel and perform 'Umrah right away. We intended to travel to Jeddah and stay there for a few days, and then perform 'Umrah. So we traveled to Jeddah, stayed there for a few days, then went down to Makkah and performed 'Umrah. We asked some shaykhs, and they told us that we owe a fidyah (ransom payment). Is this correct?

The Shaykh : Yes, that is correct.

The questioner : Okay, but we did not intend to perform 'Umrah immediately.

The Shaykh : If it is the case that you intended to perform 'Umrah during this trip of yours.

The questioner : Yes, we intended to perform 'Umrah, but only after we had settled in Jeddah.

The Shaykh : Yes, it is said: "And for those who come to them from among those who desire Hajj or 'Umrah."

The questioner : Yes, so we intended to stay in Jeddah for several days, then go down to the Holy Makkah.

The Shaykh : Even if it had been obligatory for you to enter ihram from the miqat (boundary) and complete your ihram, or if you had gone straight down to Makkah and completed the 'Umrah.

The questioner : Yes, because we thought that our intention was to do it later.

The Shaykh : The blood (sacrifice) is not harmful if you are well-off. I say, if you are well-off, the blood does not harm you. And if you are in financial difficulty, then nothing is required of you.

The questioner : No, if Allah wills, we are well-off. And you are doing well.

The Shaykh : Hmm?

The questioner : Yes, no, praise be to Allah, we are well-off, if Allah wills.

The Shaykh : Yes, it is not a burden for a period.

The questioner : Yes, so how about the blood? If we instruct someone to perform it on our behalf, if we instruct someone to issue a fatwa for us in the Holy Makkah, is that sufficient?

The Shaykh : There is nothing wrong with this.

The questioner : All right.

The Shaykh : I say, if you pay it to one person, there is nothing wrong with that.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.