What is the ruling on making a condition in Hajj and 'Umrah, and what is its benefit?

The questioner : What is the ruling on making a condition in Hajj and 'Umrah? , and what is required of one who makes a condition in order to complete his rites?

The Shaykh : The ruling on making a condition is that it is permissible. Its benefit is that if a person who intends to perform Hajj or 'Umrah makes a condition, and then something happens that prevents him from completing the Hajj or 'Umrah—and this is known in the language of the Shari'ah as being blocked (ihsar)—then if he is blocked, he must offer whatever sacrificial animal is available. This is an obligatory matter. Every person who is unable to complete the Hajj must offer a sacrificial animal, and he must perform the Hajj in the following year. This is different from the one who makes a condition at the beginning of his ihram and says, "O Allah, my place of untying is where You have stopped me." In that case, he is released from the obligation to repeat the Hajj that was prevented from being completed, and he does not have to offer a sacrificial animal. This is in contrast to the case where he did not make a condition. That is what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) intended in the authentic, well-known hadith from him, namely his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): . This applies if he did not make a condition. However, if he did make a condition, then he owes nothing whatsoever. It should be noted that the repetition of the Hajj is required of him even if he had already performed the obligatory Hajj or the Hajj of Islam. So, if he did not make a condition, was blocked, and was unable to continue with the Hajj, he must repeat the Hajj in the following year, even if he had already performed the obligatory Hajj. This is the answer to what you asked.