Q. A person intending to do the Umrah was stopped by security officers when he was on his way, and forced to go back. He had already crossed the point of meeqat and was in the state of consecration. What should he do in compensation?
M.S.A. Baig • Jeddah
A. The ruling on this question is based on what the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions did when they were prevented from entering Makkah by the Quraysh. He ordered his companions to slaughter a sheep and release themselves from consecration or ihraam. This remains the ruling for anyone who is prevented from carrying on with his Umrah or pilgrimage by something beyond his control.
Having said that, one should consider that these days security people do not prevent anyone from continuing his travel to do the Umrah or the pilgrimage, unless that person is in breach of regulations. So, if the man concerned was returned for, say, not carrying his passport with him, he does not release himself from ihraam. He should go back to rectify his mistake, bring his passport and resume his Umrah. He should remain in consecration throughout.
People of the Book
Q.1. Since the Christians and Jews have corrupted their scriptures, are they still considered People of the Book, according to the Qur’anic description, and can Muslims intermarry with them?
Q.2. Can we touch the Qur’an if we have not performed the ablution?
(Name and address withheld)
A.1. The corruption of the divine scriptures given to prophets Moses and Jesus started very early. The Qur’an mentions this and describes some of the worst aspects of this corruption, such as the claims that Jesus, or Ezra, were sons of God, and the claims of divinity attributed to Jesus and his blessed mother. Yet the Qur’an states God’s kind permission for all Muslims to eat of their food and for Muslim men to marry from among them. This permission stands for the rest of time. Some people try to remove the title “People of the Book” from present-day Christians and Jews. This cannot be sanctioned in any way. When God decides something, no one may amend or change what He has decided.
A.2. It is a Sunnah to have ablution whenever we want to remember God, including reading the Qur’an. However, this is a Sunnah, not obligatory. As for touching the Qur’an, ablution is not obligatory according to the best supported view. The verse that is often quoted as evidence requiring ablution for that carries a stronger interpretation making it a reference to the angels.
Arab News Islam 18 August 2003
