Conditions & Fundamentals of Hajj and Umrah

Going for Hajj without a mahram

Q: A woman went on hajj without being accompanied by a mahram. She had sons, but all of them were too busy with their lives to follow her so she went in a large, safe group of women. I know this is impermissible, but what is the ruling regarding the actual hajj - was her fard of hajj fulfilled? Or was it invalid, making it fard for her to repeat the hajj?

Entering Makkah without Ihraam

Q: I once performed umrah when I just became baaligh. My grandparents and I entered Makkah without being in Ihraam and also I did not wear proper shoes in Ihraam. However, all of this was done unknowingly, as I had not yet been taught that. Should I still pay a dam and what should one do if one cannot afford a dam?