Q1. My uncle passed away in Yemen and I live in Jeddah. If I wish to perform Haj on his behalf, is it obligatory for me to visit Yemen and then return here to perform Haj or can I put on Ihram from my place? A1. You can perform Haj on his behalf if you already performed Haj for yourself before, and you don't have to go where he was. You can wear Ihram from where you are, so you can go for Haj and wear your Ihram from Jeddah. Q2. I learned that the ones who intend to offer Udhiyah (sacrifice) shouldn't cut their nails or hair from the first day of the month of Dhul Hijjah, and I want to ask if this rule applies to all the family members or just the head of the family? Also, if one asks somebody else to buy and slaughter on his behalf, should he/she also stop cutting his/her nails or only the person who is to do it on his behalf? A2. Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her), narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When you see the new moon of Dhul Hijjah, if one of you wants to offer a sacrifice, let him refrain from (cutting) his hair and nails.” And this only applies on the one who intends to make the Udhiyah (sacrifice), so he/she should refrain from cutting nails or hair from the first day of the month of Dhul Hijjah till he /she slaughters his/her Udhiyah (sacrifice), and this rule doesn't apply on the rest of his/her family members or the one who will do it on his behalf. Q3. During Haj, can I delay Tawaf al Ifadah to be done with Tawaf al wada'a? Do I have to make two tawaf or is it enough to perform one? A3.The Sunnah is to perform Tawaf al Ifadah on the day of Eid (10th Dhul Hijjah), after throwing stones at jamarat al aqabah. However, if you want to delay Tawaf al ifadah and do it before you leave Makkah, then one tawaf will be sufficient for both tawaf al ifadah and tawaf al wada'a Q4. My parents have passed away. Can I include them in my Udhiyah (sacrifice) or do I have to offer one for myself and my family and another one on behalf of my parents? A4. It is enough to give one Udhiya (sacrifice) for yourself, your family, and you can include your parents, and you don't have to offer one for your dead parents unless they mentioned this in their last will. Sheik Bin Uthaymeen said “Udhiyah on behalf of the dead may be of three types: 1 – When it is offered on their behalf as well as on behalf of the living, such as when a man offers a sacrifice on behalf of himself and the members of his family, and intends thereby both those who are alive and those who are dead. This is permissible, and the basis of that is the fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) offered the sacrifice on behalf of himself and the members of his family, some of whom had previously died. 2 – Offering the sacrifice on behalf of the dead in fulfillment of their last wishes (wasaaya). This is obligatory except in the case of one who is unable to do it. The basis for this is the verse in which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Then whoever changes the bequest after hearing it, the sin shall be on those who make the change. Truly, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower”[2:181] 3 – Offering the sacrifice on behalf of the dead voluntarily and independently of the living – such as offering a separate sacrifice on behalf of one's father or mother. This is permissible. The Hanbali fuqaha' have stated that the reward for that will reach the deceased and benefit him, by analogy with giving charity on behalf of the dead. __
