Hajj & Umrah

Putting on one's ihraam before passing the miqaat

Q: My friend is travelling for Umrah next week. He will land to Jeddah, from there he will travel to Makkah without making Ihraam and making Niyyat of Umrah. From the hotel after checking in he will go to Masjid-e-Ayesha with the niyyat of umrah and from there he will wear ihraam and will perform Umrah. Is it ok or is it mandatory that he has to make the niyyat from Jeddah?

Hajj accreditation

Q: I received accreditation for Hajj 2015 Alhamdulillah. Am I now considered called by that special calling from Allah Most High (Hujja)? Is this special invitation specific to time, place, condition of the heart or simply the decree of Allah Ta'ala realised in the way it will unfold e.g. accreditation, means etc.

Paying off debts before going for Hajj

Q: I have a car loan with 0% interest and 20% paid as down payment. The rest 80% value of the car shall be paid within two years as installment. Otherwise the car will be taken by the Bank. So I need to know whether I can go for Hajj this year without closing this loan by handing over the responsibility to my brother and leaving the car with him to return to the bank in case I am not able to repay due to death.

Mixing zamzam with one's tea

Q: I heard that mixing some zamzam in a glass of water will give the whole glass of water the qualities of zamzam. Will the same be true for a cup of tea - i.e. would it be recommendable that we add a few drops of zamzam to our daily morning tea, giving it the qualities of zamzam?

Purda in ihraam

Q: Kindly advise us about ihram purdah. We are leaving for umrah in one days time and really in need of naseehat as some people who are studying deen advise that the sin is great if purdah touches the face, so rather not wear. Whilst another person who frequents haram sharief says that ihraam purdah was only introduced recently by the conserved Indian ulama and yet another apaa says that wear a normal purdah and pay dum.We want to wear the ihraam purdah. What is the dum? And can we please be advised regarding purdah in Haram Sharief whilst in ihraam?