['Aalim Network QR] Masael of Hajj & Sawm

["Akil M. Karim" <amk@io.org>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Salamun 'Alaykum

The following question was posed to us a few days ago. The answer was 
kindly provided by Dr. Takim.

Jazakallah,

Akil Karim
Acting Moderator for ABDG-A

---------- Forwarded message ----------

QUESTIONS:

I have two questions which I would like answered, please, if possible.

1. Why do men have to shave off their hair, especially the first time, when
they go for Hajj?  This question was posed to me by my madrassah students
(aged 9-12) and the reason I could come up with was that it was a sign of
submitting to the will of Allah.  Is this enough to answer the question?

2.  If I wake up one morning after the time of salaat has already set in but
before the kadhaa, and decide to fast (a wajib make-up fast) and make the
niyyat then, is my fast valid?  Is it that the niyaat has to be made before
the time of the fast has already set in, or do we have up until Zuhr time to
make the niyyat/intention?


ANSWERS:

Salaamun 'Alaykum,


1. The shaving of the hair is symbolic of a new beginning whereby a person,
having gone through a process of self purification during the hajj rituals
and renewed commitment to his Lord starts afresh. The shaving of the hair is
preceded by the symbolic killing of the evil desire (stoning the Satan),
commitment to sacrifice everything for his Lord (sacrificing the sheep
marking Nabi Ibrahim's intended sacrifice of his son) and then the beginning
of a new personality symbolized by the shaving of the hair. And God knows best.


2. As far as the qada fast is concerned, you are allowed to fast as long as
you make the niyyat (intention)of fasting before zuhr time. If it is a wajib
fast which has to be kept on a particular day (like a Ramadhan fast or if
you kept a nazr that you will fast on a particular day) then the intention
should be done before fajr al-Sadiq (before the morning salat time sets in).
However, in the case cited by you, the fast is valid as long as the
intention is done before zuhr time. Pls see al-Khu'i, Minhaj al-Salihin,
vol. 1 p. 276


Yours in Islam

Liyakatali