Mistake #1: Thinking that their iḥrām is the 'cap' they wear over their head
Some Muslimahs do not know what
iḥrām
means and they think it's the cap that they put on over their hair,
They don't take it off no matter what, thinking they will “break their
iḥrām”. Iḥrām is a
state that you enter into and putting on any
item of clothing when you enter into the state of iḥrām does not mean
that you cannot take it off later. And taking it off does NOT mean that
you ended your iḥrām. That's why the
'ulemā' say we can change our iḥrām (meaning our clothes), and even wash it if it gets dirty.
“It is permissible for the pilgrim in
iḥrām for Hajj or
'Umrah to change his iḥrām clothes and put on another set of iḥrām
clothes, and that does not affect his iḥrām for Hajj or 'Umrah.”
(Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas, Fataawa
al-Lajnah, 11/185)
Mistake #2. Excessive fear of breaking their hair
Some women have an excessive fear of breaking their hair. So much so that they don't take off their scarf/dupatta/
hijāb,
even when they're by themselves or among just women. They are so
worried about their hair breaking, that they don't even take off their
headpiece for making
wuḍū'. This is a trick of the
Shaytān. Think about it. If you don't do
wuḍū' properly, would your prayer be valid? Would your
tawāf
be valid? Do you really think Allāh would hold you accountable if you
did something that was not in your control? No of course not. He is The
Most Merciful. He is the Most Forgiving. Then, why would He would
nullify your
iḥrām just because a few hair fell out on their
own, something that was out of your control! The prohibition is for the
hair to be cut, plucked, shaved, etc. on
purpose. Not
involuntarily.
Mistake #3: Getting their hair cut ONLY by someone who has exited iḥrām
Many women think that
ONLY the one who is
NOT in
iḥrām can cut their hair, once they've finished with their rituals. And they refuse to cut their
own hair to exit
iḥrām nor do they allow another sister who has not yet exited
iḥrām
to cut it for them, thinking that she is not allowed to do that for
them. This is a wrong notion. Actually, if you think about it, you are
supposed to cut your hair when you finish with all the rituals.
The Prophet (
ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam) commanded his companions, during the Farewell Pilgrimage:
“Let him cut his (meaning, his own) hair then exit iḥrām.” (al-Bukhāri, Muslim)
Mistake #4: Not going to the Jamarāt or Muzdalifah
Some of us delegate another
hajji to throw the pebbles on
our behalf for no valid reason. We get scared of the crowd or sometimes,
get plain old lazy, not understanding the importance of doing it
themselves,
even if they are able.
Māshā'Allāh, Allāh has blessed us with health.
Alḥamdulillāh,
we are young, energetic, confident, and capable. We are able to do
anything and everything when we are back home and yet, when it comes to
Hajj and the
Jamarāt, all of a sudden we become “frail, little weaklings who cannot go throw the pebbles”.
Don't be lazy about the rituals of Hajj. Realize the significance of
doing everything yourself if you have the ability. There's no need to be
scared at all. Yes, many years ago, we heard horror stories of
stampedes, and people suffocating or hurting themselves. But not
anymore,
Alḥamdulillāh the Saudi government has renovated the
whole Jamarāt complex a few years ago and it is the easiest thing in the
world. I have seen old people in wheelchairs, people on crutches, and
kids as little as 3 and 4 years old, throwing the pebbles themselves.
If there is a lot of crowd or your safety is an issue, it can be delayed.
“It is permissible to delay their (meaning women) stoning of the Jamarāt until the crowding is less or has stopped, and there is nothing wrong with them doing that.” (Fatawa Shaykh Uthaymeen)
Although it is allowed for women to leave Muzdhalifah after half the
night has passed, if there is an excuse such as sickness, weakness, or
just because we are women. BUT, it is better if you do stay the whole
night following the
Sunnah of the Prophet (
ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam). So don't chicken out.
Mistake #5: Crowding with the men
Beware of crowding with men in
all
the rituals of Hajj, especially during ṭawāf and at the Black Stone,
during Sa'i and when stoning the Jamarat. Choose times when there is
less crowding. Think about it. Touching the Black Stone is a beautiful
Sunnah, but it is a
sunnah. And protecting yourself and your
hayā' from coming in unnecessary contact with all non-
mahram men is a
FARDH.
The Mother of Believers, 'Ā'ishah used to do
ṭawāf in an area away from the men, and she did not touch the Black Stone or the Yemeni Corner if there was crowding.
It was narrated that 'Ata' said:
'Ā'ishah used to do ṭawāf far away from the men,
not mixing with them.” A woman said: “O Mother of the Believers, let us
go and touch the Black Stone!” She said: “Go yourself,” and she refused
to go.
In my opinion, the best place for us women to do
ṭawāf is up on the roof of the
masjid.
Now it may seem like a big distance from far, but I promise you, all it
takes is an hour and 10 minutes, to be precise, to complete a
ṭawāf, walking at an average pace.
Now the
Shayṭān may play with your mind and make it seem like a lot. But then ask yourself this…don't you easily,
easily, walk an hour ten minutes in the mall?
Mistake # 6: Rushing through 'ibādah. Remember it's about quality, NOT quantity
Remember that Allāh will look at the
quality of your worship, NOT your quantity. And that's why our deeds will be
weighed on the Day of Judgment and not
counted. If you pray just two
rakʿah with
khushū',
concentrating on what you are saying, beseeching Allāh with humility,
wouldn't that be better and more acceptable to Allāh than even 50 or
even a 100
rakʿah quickly pecking the ground, without knowing a word of what you are saying?
Every time you do any '
ibādah, check to see whether you have
khushoo or not? Are you focused in what you are doing? Do you know the
meaning of what you are saying or asking? Are you moving at a slow,
measured pace or are you rushing through it?
Remember what the Prophet (
ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam), said:
“The worst type of thief is the one who steals from his prayer!” The
Companions asked, “Oh Messenger of Allah! How does one steal from his
prayers?” The Prophet (
ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam), responded,
“He does not complete his bowing, nor his prostrations.”
Or he said “He does not straighten his backbone while bowing and
prostrating.” (Ahmed, Al-Ṭabarani, others–authentic)
Mistake #7: Misbehaving in the masjid of the Prophet
One of the worst mistakes that I see the sisters making is at the Prophet's (
ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam)
masjid. When the doors are opened, in the morning and evening, for the sisters so that they can visit the
Raudah of the Prophet (
ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam),
they totally lose all sense of who they are, where they are and what
they are doing. They run like wild animals let loose, shouting and
screaming in ignorance, pushing each other, trampling anyone and
everyone that comes in their way.
SubḥānAllāh sisters! Is this what the Prophet (
ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam), taught us?! Is this the way you behave in a
masjid, let alone the Prophet (
ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam)'s
masjid?! Is this the respect he (
ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam), deserves from you?
Remember when visiting the Prophet
(ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam),'s masjid, to behave with honor and dignity, with the
hayaa'
that Allāh has adorned you with, as a believing Muslim woman would.
Remember to keep your voice soft and your walk paced. Don't shove, push,
harm or hurt your fellow Muslim sisters. Even if you didn't get a
chance to pray in that area, if you let your sister pray there for the
sake of Allāh just because she is your Muslim sister, Allāh will reward
you, and He knows best, perhaps even
more than He would have, had you yourself had a chance to pray there.
Mistake #8: Wasting precious time in Mina
I see so many sisters wasting their time talking with each other,
about nothing specific, mingling and socializing with the other Hajjis,
while they are staying in
Mina
and even on the day of Arafah, which is the most important day of Hajj.
They forget that these are the most blessed days in which
ibādah is dearest to Allāh. They forget that Mina is not a place to socialize; rather it is a place for
ibādah and
dhikr and
istighfār and
du'ā'.
They forget that Day of Arafah is THE DAY for Hajj. That's what this
whole journey is all about. Instead of remembering Allāh, they busy
themselves with idle talk, laughing, joking, even
gheebah and gossip.
Now, there's nothing wrong with talking for a little bit and to
enquire about each other's well being, etc. In fact, it becomes an act
ibādahof if you talk with that
niyyah of being kind and polite to your fellow Muslim or for taking a little rest in between your
ibādah
to refresh yourself. But when this talking takes over one's time and
this is what a person is doing the majority of the time in Mina, then it
becomes an a serious issue of wasting precious time. And in the end, no
one loses but you.
Mistake # 9: Being uncovered in Muzdalifah
Muzdalifah is an open ground and there are no tents, etc and the bathrooms are in an open field. When the sisters make
wuḍū' there, they forget that they are in an open area and there are men everywhere who can see them. Yet, they take off their
ḥijābs and
dupattas right in front of them to make
wuḍū', thus exposing themselves. So how does one make
wuḍū' in such a situation?
There is an easy solution to all of this. Whenever you need to make
wuḍū', go with a few women as a group and take turns making
wuḍū' while the others can hold up a piece of cloth,
ḥijāb, etc in such a way as to cover you and hide you completely. This way no one can see you,
insha Allāh.
May Allāh enable us to perform Hajj according to the Sunnah of the Prophet (ṣallallāhu 'alayhi wa sallam), in a manner that is most pleasing to Him. May Allāh accept this Hajj from all of us and make it Mabroor. Ameen.
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