Lesson 6 · Special Circumstances in Hajj/Umrah: Women in Iddah, Children & Badal

In summary

Imam Sheikh Omar Effendi explains how iddah, childhood and incapacity affect Hajj and Umrah. He distinguishes divorce and widowhood waiting periods, including pregnancy, and stresses supporting women rather than treating iddah as punishment. Iddah begins immediately; postponing pilgrimage is recommended, with restricted continuation in the circumstances discussed. Children’s pilgrimage brings reward and religious familiarity but ordinarily does not fulfil their adult obligation; guardians assist with rituals and bear compensation for violations. Badal allows pilgrimage for the deceased or those permanently unable to travel. The lesson also addresses estate funding, heirs’ rights, and choosing an honest representative who has completed their own fard Hajj and acts sincerely.

Key takeaways

• 01Observe iddah immediately after divorce or a husband’s death, and support affected women with care.
• 02For divorce, the Shafi'i school counts three cleansing periods, while the Hanafi school counts three periods of hayd.
• 03Widowhood iddah is four months and ten days; for a pregnant woman, iddah ends at childbirth.
• 04The teacher recommends postponing pilgrimage during iddah; if already in Makkah or unable to cancel without financial loss, continue while observing its restrictions.
• 05During permitted pilgrimage in iddah, perform the manasik without beautification, perfume, shopping or visits to sacred places.
• 06Help children perform the rituals they can manage, knowing their pilgrimage ordinarily does not replace a later fard Hajj when istita'ah is met.
• 07For a living person, badal requires permanent incapacity, disabling old age or illness with no expected recovery—not temporary illness.
• 08Distinguish an intended, fully funded Hajj treated as a debt from voluntary family funding, and never compel heirs to surrender their shares.
• 09Choose an honest, capable badal representative who has completed their own fard Hajj and makes niyyah for the person represented.

Mentioned in this lesson

• Qur'an, Surah al-Baqarah 2:228: divorced women’s waiting period.
• Qur'an: widowhood iddah of four months and ten days; verse number not given.
• Qur'an: pregnant women’s iddah ends at childbirth; citation spoken as “64,” with no clear surah-and-verse reference.
• Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim (the Sahihain): Subayyah al-Aslamiyyah’s childbirth after her husband’s death; hadith number not given.
• Qur'an, Surah al-Nur: accusations and protection of lineage; verse number not given.
• Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim: Umm Habibah and Zaynab bint Jahsh on mourning beyond three days, except for a husband; hadith number not given.
• Qur'an, Surah al-Baqarah: “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un” and blessings upon the patient; verse numbers not given.
• Reports of Umar returning widows from pilgrimage and differing views attributed to Aisha, Ibn Abbas, Jabir ibn Zayd, Hasan and Ata; reference numbers not given.
• Abdul Razak, through Ibn Jurayj and Ata, reporting Ibn Abbas on where a widow may observe iddah; reference number not given.
• Qur'an, Surah al-Ahzab 33: obedience to Allah and His Messenger’s decree; verse number not given.
• Hadith on guiding children from age seven and discipline at ten; collection and number not given.
• Ibn Abbas: a woman at Rawha asks whether her child has Hajj, and the Prophet confirms reward for her; collection and number not given.
• Ibn Abbas: a minor who performs Hajj must perform another after puberty; collection and number not given.
• Jabir: talbiyah and pelting performed on behalf of children; collection and number not given.
• Ibn Abbas: a woman of Juhaynah asks about fulfilling her deceased mother’s vowed Hajj; collection and number not given.
• Ibn Abbas: a woman asks about Hajj for her elderly father who cannot remain seated on a riding animal; collection and number not given.
• Hadith urging a believer not to sleep for three days without preparing a will, as quoted by the teacher; collection and number not given.
• Report attributed to Jabir concerning reward for the deceased, the badal pilgrim and those enabling the Hajj; collection and number not given.
• Ibn Abbas: the Shubrumah narration requiring one’s own Hajj before performing Hajj for another; collection and number not given.
• Imam Ghazali: warning against performing Hajj solely for worldly payment; work and reference number not given.