The Case of al-Mahsur (Prevented) and al-Masdud (Confined)(Those Prevented from Performing al-Hajj Due to Illness and So On or by Authorities)

“When the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause was prevented at al-Hudaybiyah from performing al-Hajj, he (the Messenger of Allah) did Taqsir (cutting some hair or finger nails and so on). He (the Messenger of Allah) then came out of the state of Ihram and offered sacrifice, then left that place. Shaving was not obligatory for him until all acts of al-Hajj are performed. One who is Mahsur (confined) must carry out Taqsir (cutting some hair or finger nails and so on).’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who is in the state of Ihram and his leg is broken and about his condition and what he owes. He (the Imam) said, ’He is out of the state of Ihram about all things.’ I then asked, ’Even women, clothes and perfume are lawful for him?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, everything that is unlawful for one in the state of Ihram is lawful for him.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Have you not heard the words of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), “Release me as You have kept me on hold, with Your measure that You have applied on me”?’ I then asked, ‘May Allah keep you well, what you say about al-Hajj?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He must perform al-Hajj in future.’ I then said, ‘Please tell me about al-Mahsur (confined) and al-Masdud (prevented) if they are the same.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, they are not the same.’ I then asked, ‘When the pagans prevented the Holy prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, did he complete his al-‘Umrah?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he (the Holy prophet) performed al-‘Umrah afterward.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Al-Mahsur (confined) is different from al- Masdud (prevented). Al-Mahsur (confined) is one who suffers from an illness, and al-Masdud (prevented) is one who is prevented by the pagans, as they prevented the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and his companions. It was not because of illness. Women are lawful for al-Masdud (prevented) but not for al- Mahsur (confined).’ I then asked him (the Imam) about a man who is al-Mahsur (confined) and sends the offering. He (the Imam) said, ‘They set up a time. If it is for al-Hajj, the time for offering is the Yawm al-Nahr (day of offering). On the day of offering one does Taqsir (cutting some hair from his head) and shaving is not obligatory until all acts of al-Hajj are complete. If it is for al-‘Umrah, one waits until his people enter Makkah and at the hour which is set up, he does Taqsir (cutting some hair or finger nails and so on) and comes out of the state of Ihram. If he suffers from an illness on the way after assuming the state of Ihram, if he wants to return to his family, he can do so and slaughters a badanah (camel), or stay where he is until he gets well, if it is in al-‘Umrah when he gets well; he must perform an obligatory al-‘Umrah. If he owes al-Hajj, returns or stays there but he has missed al- Hajj and he owes al-Hajj in future. Al-Husayn (a.s.), once went for al-‘Umrah and became ill on the way. Ali (a.s.), was informed about him in al-Madinah. He came out to find him and he found him suffering from illness in al-Suqya’ (name of a place). He asked, ‘Son what is the matter?’ He replied, ‘I have a headache.’ Ali (a.s.), asked for a badanah (camel), slaughtered it, shaved his head and sent him to al-Madinah. When he became well from his illness he returned for al-‘Umrah.’ I then asked, ‘When he became well and before performing al-‘Umrah were women lawful for him?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, women are not lawful until he performs Tawaf around the House and Tawaf between al-Safa’ and al-Marwah.’ I then asked, ‘How is it that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, returned from al-Hudaybiyah, women were lawful for him and he had not performed Tawaf around the House?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘They are not the same. The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, was al-Masdud (prevented), and al-Husayn (a.s.), was al-Mahsur (confined).”’

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘When one becomes al-Mahsur (confined) he sends his offering. If he gets well and feels light, he continues, if he thinks that he can catch up with people. If he comes to Makkah before the offering is slaughtered, he can continue with his Ihram until completion of all acts, slaughter his offering and there is nothing on him. If he arrives in Makkah when the offering is already slaughtered, then he owes al-Hajj in future or al-‘Umrah.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if he dies in the state of Ihram before arriving in Makkah?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Al- Hajj must be performed for him, if it is Hajjahta al-Islam, as well as al-‘Umrah. It is something which is due on him.’”

“This is about a man who has become al-Mahsur (confined) and has not driven an offering. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He completes all other acts and returns home, and if he cannot pay for the offering, he must fast.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one becomes al-Mahsur (confined) and sends his offering then his head annoys him before the offering is slaughtered, he must slaughter a sheep wherever he is. Alternatively, he must fast or give charity. Fasting is three days and charity is to feed six destitute people each with a half Sa‘ of food.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who decides to perform al-Hajj al- Tamattu‘ (advantageous) but he becomes al-Mahsur (confined); if this is sufficient for him not to perform al-Hajj in future. He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to perform al-Hajj in future and so also is (deciding just for) al-Hajj, if he becomes al-Mahsur (confined).’ I then asked about a man who drives the offering and then he become al-Mahsur (confined).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He is required to send his offering.’ I then asked, ‘Can he perform al-Hajj al-Tamattu‘ (advantageous) in future?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, he must enter from the point he had left.”’

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who is referred to Sultan who has held him unjustly on the day of ‘Arafah from attending. He is sent to Makkah in jail. On the day of al-Nahr (offering sacrifice) he is released. What should he do? He (the Imam) said, ‘He must catch up to stay at the gathering place (‘Arafat), then return to Mina, throw pebbles, slaughter, shave and there is nothing on him.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if he is released on the day of departure?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He is an al-Masdud (prevented) person. If he had entered Makkah for al-Hajj al- Tamattu‘ (advantageous), he must perform Tawaf around the House seven times, do Sa‘y between al- Safa’ and al-Marwah seven times, shave his head and slaughter a sheep. If he was for performing al- Mufrid al-Hajj, he is not required to offer for slaughtering and there is nothing on him.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Masdud (prevented) offers an animal for slaughtering wherever he is prevented and returns home. Women are lawful for him. Al-Mahsur (confined) sends his offering, sets up a certain time and when the offering reaches its place, he in his place comes out of the state of Ihram.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if they returned his dirhams and did not slaughter, but he has come out of the state of Ihram and has gone with women? He (the Imam) said, ‘He must do it again; there is nothing on him but for now he must stay away from women when he sends his offering.’”