Q 1: In 1417 AH., I performed Hajj along with my father, mother and wife. We came on the Day of `Arafah (9th of Dhul-Hijjah) from Al-Ta'if after passing by the Miqat (site for entering the ritual state for Hajj and `Umrah) in the morning to stand at Mount `Arafah. We then left `Arafah for Muzdalifah where we spent the night and then headed for Makkah before dawn and there we offered Fajr (Dawn) Prayer. Thereafter, we went to the Jamarat (stone pillars at which pebbles are thrown during Hajj, Jamarat-ul-`Aqabah being the closest to Makkah) and threw the pebbles of Al-`Aqabah, and this is where an awful accident took place during which I was about to be crushed had it not been for Allah's Grace and Mercy. Actually, we stayed at Makkah as we could find no place to stay in Mina due to the great fire that took place that year. In fact, some relatives of ours searched for a (Part No. 10; Page No. 288) tent for us to stay in at Mina but they found nothing. For this reason, we did not go to Mina and after throwing the pebbles of Al-`Aqabah we performed Tawaf-ul-Ifadah (final obligatory circumambulation of the Ka`bah in Hajj) and then headed for Al-`Aziziyyah where we rented an apartment. Thus, we did not stay at Mina during the nights of Tashriq (11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah). Thereafter, I and my father threw the remaining pebbles on behalf of ourselves and my mother and wife. Although they were able, and asked us to do so, we refused their request and insisted on throwing on behalf of them because it was very crowded and so we were worried about them. To sum up, we threw pebbles on their behalf on the Days of Tashriq and then hastened to leave Mina on the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah. We then performed Tawaf-ul-Wada` (circumambulation of the Ka`bah on leaving Makkah) as our Hajj was Ifrad (performing Hajj only). We then went back to Al-Ta'if where I and my father slaughtered two sheep: one as an offering as a token of gratitude to Allah (Exalted be He) for saving me from death in the accident and the other on behalf of us all for our stay at Al-`Aziziyyah in Makkah and for not spending the night at Mina during the nights of Tashriq. Is what we did valid? Does slaughtering one sheep on behalf of us all make up for not spending the night at Mina on the nights of Tashriq, bearing in mind that we slaughtered it in Al-Ta'if based on my father's request and distributed it among our neighbors and deserving people who were not in Makkah?

A: If the reality is as you mentioned, what you did is valid as you do not have to spend the night at Mina because doing so was beyond your capacity.Your wife did not throw pebbles on behalf of herself even though she was capable of doing so, therefore, she must offer a sacrificial animal that meets the same conditions for Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims) and it is to be slaughtered in Makkah and distributed among the poor. Furthermore, you should all return to Makkah to perform Sa`y (going between Safa and Marwah during Hajj and `Umrah) if you did not perform it along with Tawaf-ul-Ifadah; actually, you (Part No. 10; Page No. 289) said in your letter that you performed the latter but you did not mention Sa`y. Moreover, those who deputized others to throw pebbles on their behalf have not discharged the obligation and each of them has to slaughter a sacrificial animal in Makkah to be distributed among the poor inhabitants of the Haram (all areas within the Sacred Sanctuary of Makkah) and nothing of this should be eaten by the one who slaughters it. As for sacrificial animals you slaughtered in Al-Ta'if, they do not discharge your obligation because sacrificial animals should be slaughtered in Al-Haram. However, if it is beyond your capacity to slaughter, you should fast for ten days.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.