Offering a Fidyah for having a doubt

Q: I performed the obligatory Hajj for the first time this year. I intended Ifrad Hajj (performing Hajj only) (Part No. 10; Page No. 296) from Qarn Al-Manazil, wore Ihram (clothing worn during the ceremonial state for Hajj and `Umrah) and proclaimed Talbiyah (devotional expression chanted at certain times during Hajj and `Umrah) on my way to Makkah, where I performed Tawaf-ul-Qudum (circumambulation of the Ka`bah on arrival in Makkah) and offered Salah (Prayer) near Maqam Ibrahim (the Station of Ibrahim) as the Sunnah (supererogatory act of worship following the example of the Prophet) of Tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka`bah). I then performed Sa`i (going between Al-Safa and Al-Marawah during Hajj and `Umrah). Thereafter, I headed for Mina to spend the night prior to `Arafah On the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, I stood at Mount `Arafah from sunrise until after sunset where I combined Zhuhr (Noon) and `Asr (Afternoon) Salahs (Prayers) at the time of the earlier one. I then left `Arafah for Al-Muzdalifah where I combined Maghrib (Sunset) and `Isha' (Night) Salahs at the time of the later one and spent the whole night until I performed Fajr (Dawn) Prayer. I also supplicated to Allah at Al-Mash`ar-ul-Haram (Sacred Monument at Muzdalifah). Thereafter, I threw Jamarat-ul-`Aqabah (the closest pillar to Makkah) after sunrise on the Day of Nahr (Sacrifice, 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, when pilgrims slaughter their sacrificial animals). Later, I shortened my hair and headed for Makkah where I performed Tawaf-ul-Ifadah (final obligatory circumambulation of the Ka`bah in Hajj). I was so tired and fatigued, as I suffer from hypertension, that I performed Tawaf on the upper level due to excessive crowding on the main floor.After performing two rounds of Tawaf, I rented a wheelchair to help me complete the remaining rounds. After finishing Tawaf I fell down to the ground out of fatigue and thus could not perform the two-Rak`ahs (units of Prayer) Sunnah of Tawaf. I remained unconscious until the Adhan (call to Prayer) of Maghrib Prayer and then performed Wudu' (ablution) and offered Maghrib and later `Isha' Prayers while sitting. In fact, while sitting in the wheelchair I would alert those unaware using my walking stick or in a low voice so that they would not be harmed by the chair's wheels. Anyway, I later went to Mina where I spent (Part No. 10; Page No. 297) the tenth and eleventh nights of Dhul-Hijjah. There I threw the three Jamarat (pillars which are stoned during Hajj, Jamarat-ul-`Aqabah being the closest to Makkah), beginning with Al-Jamrah Al-Sughra (first or smallest pebble-throwing area) on the second and third days of `Eid-ul-Adha (the Festival of the Sacrifice) after Zawal (midday) and before sunset. However, I was not completely sure whether the pebbles fell into the enclosure surrounding the stone pillars, and thus I threw more than seven pebbles. On the third day of `Eid-ul-Adha and after throwing the Jamarat, I headed for Makkah and entered the Al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque in Makkah) during the rush hour when all its floors were very crowded. This, in addition to my hypertension, caused a skin rash on my thighs making me feel as if hot iron bars were between them. Hardly able to walk, I could not perform Tawaf-ul-Wada` (circumambulation of the Ka`bah on leaving Makkah). Moreover, I had booked a flight that was departing on the same day. I was told that Tawaf-ul-Wada` is Sunnah according to the Maliki school of jurisprudence, while viewed by some other Imams to be Wajib (obligatory) which requires a Hady (sacrificial animal offered by pilgrims) should be slaughtered as compensation, according to other scholars; or nothing should be done as compensation for not doing it, according to some other scholars.The question is: Is my Hajj as such valid? What should I do? Answer me, may Allah benefit and reward you!


A: You are liable for a Fidyah (ransom) since you doubted whether the pebbles you threw fell within the enclosure or not. You are also liable for another Fidyah (ransom) for not performing Tawaf-ul-Wada`. You have to slaughter a sheep meeting the same conditions for Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims) in Makkah and distribute it among the poor inhabitants of the Haram (all areas within the Sacred Sanctuary of Makkah). If this is unfeasible, you must observe Sawm (Fast) for ten days in place of each Fidyah. (Part No. 10; Page No. 298) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.


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