Ablution in tied hair Q: Can women perform ablution and offer salah with their hairs tied on top (putting a knot on the back of their head)? What is the ruling on this? Ikram Ahmed Sheriff A: It is fine to wipe over such tied hair and women don't need to untie it as long as most of the hairs could be touched with the wet hands without any barrier like head cover. In case of making ghusl after janabah (major impurity) or menstruation, it is recommended to untie hairs, but if the hairs were tied in tight braids, there is no harm in keeping them tied but make sure that water gets into it thoroughly. It was narrated by Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with them): “I said: (O Messenger of Allah, I am a woman who has closely plaited hair on my head. Should I untie it for taking a Ghusl, after Janabah or menstruation? He (peace and blessing be upon him) said: No, it is enough for you to throw three handfuls of water on your head and then pour water over yourself, and you shall be purified.) Reported by Muslim Farewell Tawaf Q: My wife finished all the Haj rituals, but she was not able to perform Tawaf Al-Weda'a (farewell tawaf) , because her menstruation period started before we left Makkah, what should she do? A: Farewell Tawaf is a must on every one who performs Haj except for menstruating woman. So her Haj is complete and she doesn't need to do anything else. Arafat, Ashura fasting Q: What is the reward of fasting on the day of Arafat and the Day of Ashura? A: The answer is in the Hadeeth narrated by Abu Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “Fasting on the Day of Arafat is an expiation for two years, a past year and the next one. And fasting on the Day of Ashura' (10th of Muharram) is an expiation for a past year. (Muslim, Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa'y, and IbnMajah) Tashriq Days fast? Q: I fasted on the 13th of the this month (Dhul Hijja) as I used to fast the 13th,14th,and the 15th of every month. But I was told that it is not permissible to fast the three days after Eid Al-Adha. Is this correct and what are the proofs for this ruling? A: The 11th,12th, and the 13th of this month are called Ayyam Al-Tashriq, (Tashriq Days). It is not permissible to fast on these days except for pilgrims who performed Tamatu or Qiran Haj and can't afford sacrifice. This is based on the Hadeeth of Nubaishah Al-Hudhaly who said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) said: (The Days of Tashriq are days for eating, drinking and making remembrance of Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted).” Pilgrims who performed Tamattu or Qiran Haj should present hady (sacrifice) that should be slaughtered in Makkah and be given to the poor in the Haram area, and the one who can't afford to do this should fast 10 days, three days during Haj as Allah said (then whoever performs Umrah [during the Haj months] followed by Haj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during Haj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are 10 complete [days]). Therefore, no one is permitted to fast on these days except the pilgrims who can't perform sacrifice, and this exception is supported by the Hadeeth narrated by Ibn ‘Umar and Aishah (may Allah be pleased with them) who said: “No one was permitted to fast on the Days of Tashriq except for the one who cannot find (or afford) Hady (sacrifice).” __
