Hajj & Umrah

Q: In their thirst for mock Umrahs, travel operators in South Africa are defrauding the Saudi Government. They are advising prospective travellers to apply for a renewal of their passports earlier than required even though the traveller's current passport is valid and not due to renewal until after several years/months have lapsed. In other words, a traveller can have more than one valid passport and they use their latest passport to apply for UMRAH visa and they renew it again for future trips.

This means that the prospective traveller can travel for Umrah multiple times during a 24 month period without paying the additional repeat Umrah visa fee of SAR2000.

This is causing the SAUDI government a loss of revenue and is a false representation of the traveller's historical travel.

The contention from the prospective traveller is that the repeat Umrah visa fee is Zulm and therefore they are not liable for the Saudi Holiday Visa Fees. They also stated that the Ulema are doing it so why shouldn't they do it as well. Please advise if this current trend is permissible for an upright Muslim ?

Q: My mother in law has been asked by her brothers to go for Umrah with them (they will pay all the expenses) but she refuses saying that she will go for Umrah only with her sons (they dont have enough money at this point in their lives). She says that she doesn't want any favours.

The question is, is she allowed to refuse Umrah? Would it be a sin? Or can she wait for her sons to take her to Makkah.

Q: Where should one's gaze be whilst making tawaaf?

Q: Can a person change his ihraam cloths? Is there any difference in the masalah if there is an excuse or not?

Q: Can one make 3 tawwafs i.e. 21 rounds consecutively then read the waajibut tawaaf salaah after the 3 tawaafs i.e. 3 x 2 rakaats of waajibut tawaaf?

Q: What should a person do if the jamaat salaah commences whilst one is making tawaaf?

Q: I am living in Jeddah. My mother is coming to me on umra visa. I have a plane to go to madina on the same day without doing umrah. After staying at madina for 2 days we are planing to do umra on return, is there any objection according to Quran and Sunnah?

Q: I came to Saudi Jeddah to search for a job. I am planning to search for a job in Makkah. Can I go to Makkah without ihraam and search for a job and return to Jeddah without doing umrah?

Q: When do the restrictions of ihram start: after praying two rakaats or after saying niyat or after talbiyah?

Q:

1. Can one use a blanket with sewn borders during ihram?

2. Can one wear a watch with a leather strap which has stitches during ihram?