A man on a mission is unsure whether he is permitted to perform 'Umrah or not, and he passed the miqat before being given permission. Should he return to enter ihram from the miqat, or from the place where he formed the intention?

The questioner : O Shaykh, may Allah preserve you. If a person says, "If Allah wills, I will intend to perform 'Umrah on the day of Hajj," and he is participating in a mission, and he says, "If my work permits it," and in most cases the work does not object, but we put it at ten percent as a precaution. Now that he has passed the miqat, is he required to return to perform ihram from the miqat?

The Shaykh : Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you. The man who is on a mission and does not know whether he will be given permission or not is not required to enter ihram from the miqat. If he is given permission, he enters ihram from the place where the permission was granted.

The questioner : This, O Shaykh, happened on a mission last year.

The Shaykh : This answer is concluded.

The questioner : Yes, yes. I am telling you now: there is a second point regarding the fatwa. Many of our brothers in various places issue fatwas that differ from this, I mean.

The Shaykh : What do they say?

The questioner : They issue a fatwa saying: You must return to the miqat.

The Shaykh : No, that is not correct.

The questioner : This is an example of issuing a fatwa without knowledge.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : It is an example of issuing a fatwa without knowledge.

The Shaykh : Yes, because the man did not resolve to do it, and how can he resolve to do it when he does not know?

The questioner : He has his ihram clothes with him and everything else.

The Shaykh : But did he resolve to do it or not? He cannot resolve to do it except with permission.

The questioner : The intention is there, but...

The Shaykh : No, the intention is for the action, but if this condition prevents the execution.

The questioner : Well done. May Allah reward you.