Bismihi Ta`ala

*WEARING MEDICAL MASK DURING IHRAAM*.

*Due to health protocols, international norms require mask  wearing through travelling and throughout any stage of journey. Hence Hajj and Umrah authorities have also applied compulsory mask wearing for everyone including mu’tamirs and those in ihraam of Umrah. As such, we will look into the maslah of wearing medical masks  during Ihraam.*

*Firstly, Male or Female hujjaaj and mu`tamirs that are in Ihraam are prohibited to wear anything directly on face.* *Ladies should veil their faces with a veil suspended front a cap on their head. So prohibited to wear medical masks during Ihraam for men and women. If worn for 12 hours consecutively, or taken out to rewear then a dam/sheep should be given in Mina/Haram. During the the present circumstances, travelling and circulating protocols require medical masks. The maslah is that whether we are forced or not, if more than a quarter of face is covered(which is the case with medical masks) during ihraam for a period of 12 hours or more, then a dam is wajib. Even if we take it out and then to rewear then still it is accounted as a continuous wearing. So it does not make any difference if we take it out when you have intention to rewear it. But if wore the medical mask less than 12 hours during Ihraam then Sadaqah suffice. And if 12 hours or more, a day or two days, then a dam/sheep  should be given in Mina/Haram.*

*According to the present price-JUNE 2022/Zul Qa’dah 1443- of flour in Makkah, 20 Riyals Sadaqah would suffice to cover less than 12 hours of mask wearing. But above 12 hours, a sheep  should be slaughtered in Mina/Haram. Best to give Sadaqahs to Makkah poor people. And permissible to give the value of 20  riyals Sadaqah to poor people of your home town.*

Mufti Mackoojee 

+23057921333