QUESTION:
As Salaamu Alaikum,
I wanted to ask you that I have been infested with the problem of body lice since June 2019. My clothes and bedding is totally infested with lice. Everywhere I go, these lice travel with me. They also live in the roots of my pubic hair, chest hair, even head and every other part where hair can be found. The situation is so bad that I cannot even sleep at night. Please make dua for me and also tell me wazaif for this condition. I have intended to perform Hajj inshaAllah this year. Please tell me if I can shave while wearing an ihram or not. If not, how will I perform Hajj???
ANSWER:
Wa Alaikum As Salaam,
I am Very sorry to hear of this situation. May Allah grant you ease. It is mentioned in some books that you can recite the following excessively, especially when going to bed. Insha Allah, you will get ease.
إِنِّي تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ رَبِّي وَرَبِّكُمْ مَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهَا إِنَّ رَبِّي عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
(Hud verse 56)
With respect to the state of Ihram, then because of your situation, you will have no choice except to shave in order to get ease from the lice infestation. So, it will be allowed based on necessity for you to shave, but you will have to give a Dam (do a sacrifice of a sheep or goat) to compensate for this act.
This is evident from the narration of Ka’ab bin Ujrah (R.A) who said, ‘The Prophet (S.A.S) came to me during the period of Al Hudaibiya and lice were falling from my head (while I was in the state of Ihram). He said, “Do your lice hurt you?” I said, “Yes”. He said, ‘Then shave your head and fast for three days or feed six poor persons or slaughter a sheep as a sacrifice’ (Sahih Al Bukhari)
(Irshaad As Saari Page. 460 – Mu’asasah Ar Rayan Beirut 2009).
(Kitab An Nawazil Vol. 7 page. 377 Darul Isha’at Karachi 2016)
And Allah Knows best
Mufti Waseem Khan
27/01/2021