What is the benefit of making a condition in Hajj?
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The questioner : This is an Egyptian resident in Jordan asking, "What is the benefit of making a condition in Hajj?"
The Shaykh : Making a condition in Hajj is for a person to stipulate when entering the state of ihram: "If something prevents me, then my place of exiting ihram is where I am prevented." The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed regarding the prescription of making this condition. Some said that it is not prescribed at all, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed Hajj and 'Umrah, and it is not reported that he made a condition, neither in his Hajj nor in his 'Umrah. It is well known that the sick were with him, yet he did not guide the people to make a condition. Here is Ka'b ibn Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him) in the 'Umrah of Hudaybiyyah; he was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was ill, with lice falling from his head onto his face. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Bulugh al-Maram 738 and ordered him to shave his head and to pay an expiation, or fast, or feed the poor. This story is well known in the two Sahihs and elsewhere. These people, or this group of scholars, hold that making a condition is not prescribed at all.
Others hold that it is prescribed at all times, and that it is recommended for a person to stipulate when entering the state of ihram: "If something prevents me, then my place of exiting ihram is where I am prevented." They justified this by saying that one cannot be safe from unexpected events that may occur during his ihram and compel him to exit the state. If he has made a condition with Allah, it becomes easy for him to exit the state.
However, the correct view is that making a condition is not prescribed unless a person fears an obstacle that will prevent him from completing his rites, such as being ill and fearing that the illness will worsen so that he is unable to complete his rites. In this case, he makes a condition.
As for when a person is not afraid of an obstacle that prevents him, or an obstacle that stands between him and completing his rites, he does not make a condition. This is the view that brings the evidence into agreement. The reason is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed 'Umrah and Hajj without making a condition, and he did not say to the people as a general rule, "Make a condition when entering ihram." However, when Suba'ah bint al-Zubayr ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib informed him that she intended to perform Hajj and was suffering from an illness, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to her: So whoever is in a condition like hers makes a condition, and whoever is not does not make a condition.
As for the benefit of making a condition, its benefit is that if a person encounters something that prevents him from completing his rites, he exits the state of ihram without anything, meaning he exits and owes no expiation and no making up of the missed acts.
The Shaykh : Making a condition in Hajj is for a person to stipulate when entering the state of ihram: "If something prevents me, then my place of exiting ihram is where I am prevented." The scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed regarding the prescription of making this condition. Some said that it is not prescribed at all, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed Hajj and 'Umrah, and it is not reported that he made a condition, neither in his Hajj nor in his 'Umrah. It is well known that the sick were with him, yet he did not guide the people to make a condition. Here is Ka'b ibn Ujrah (may Allah be pleased with him) in the 'Umrah of Hudaybiyyah; he was brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was ill, with lice falling from his head onto his face. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
I did not know that your disease is hurting you as much as what I see
ما كنت أرى الوجع بلغ بك ما أرىOthers hold that it is prescribed at all times, and that it is recommended for a person to stipulate when entering the state of ihram: "If something prevents me, then my place of exiting ihram is where I am prevented." They justified this by saying that one cannot be safe from unexpected events that may occur during his ihram and compel him to exit the state. If he has made a condition with Allah, it becomes easy for him to exit the state.
However, the correct view is that making a condition is not prescribed unless a person fears an obstacle that will prevent him from completing his rites, such as being ill and fearing that the illness will worsen so that he is unable to complete his rites. In this case, he makes a condition.
As for when a person is not afraid of an obstacle that prevents him, or an obstacle that stands between him and completing his rites, he does not make a condition. This is the view that brings the evidence into agreement. The reason is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed 'Umrah and Hajj without making a condition, and he did not say to the people as a general rule, "Make a condition when entering ihram." However, when Suba'ah bint al-Zubayr ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib informed him that she intended to perform Hajj and was suffering from an illness, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to her:
Perform Hajj, but stipulate that my place of standing is where I am detained, for you have upon your Lord what you have stipulated.
حجي واشترطي أن محلي حيث حبستني فإن لك على ربك ما استثنيتAs for the benefit of making a condition, its benefit is that if a person encounters something that prevents him from completing his rites, he exits the state of ihram without anything, meaning he exits and owes no expiation and no making up of the missed acts.