Q: I assumed Ihram (ritual state for Hajj and `Umrah) from the Miqat (sites for entering the ritual state for Hajj and `Umrah) and the same was done by my family, my friend and his family. After that, we had an accident and had to return without completing the `Umrah. We did not say, "If a force majeure detains me, I shall end Ihram wherever I am detained." We forgot to say it. What should we do to expiate for the removal of Ihram without completing the `Umrah? Is it permissible for us to slaughter a sacrificial animal at the place where we live if it is obligatory for us to slaughter it? Those who were in my company were my wife, my mature son and daughter, a daughter aged 14, a son aged 11 and five children under the age of ten. Those who were in my friend's company were his wife and four children under the age of five. May Allah grant you success.

A: You all have to return to perform `Umrah and to repent sincerely to Allah. Those among you who had sexual intercourse have to slaughter a sacrificial animal in Makkah and distribute its meat to the poor there to make up for the first `Umrah. The first `Umrah has been nullified and so you all have to complete it and make up for it. The Miqat where you should assume Ihram for the second `Umrah (Part No. 11; Page No. 355) is the same Miqat where they assumed Ihram for the first one. As for a person who wears stitched clothes or applies perfume, if he does so out of lack of knowledge or forgetfulness, there is no harm in that. However, if he does it deliberately despite knowing the ruling on it, he has to offer Fidyah (ransom), that is feed six needy people; half a Sa` (1 Sa`=3 kg. Approx.) of the common foodstuff in his country. If he is unable to do so, he should observe Sawm (Fasting) for three days or offer a sheep for every violation he has made such as wearing stitched clothes, wearing head gear, applying perfume, trimming nails, shaving pubic hair, trimming the moustache and plucking armpit hair. He also has to return to Allah in sincere repentance for doing all that.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.