Matters from Which One Must Not Do in the State of al-’Ihram, Such as Quarrelling

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When you assume the state of Ihram you must maintain piety before Allah. You must speak of Allah very often, talk very little unless it is for good reasons, of the completion of al-Hajj and al-‘Umrah is safeguarding one’s tongue except in what is good. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, “Those who make al-Hajj obligatory upon themselves must take notice that there is no sexual relation, lying, abusing and swearing in al-Hajj.” (2:197) Swearing means to say, “No, by Allah, yes, by Allah.” One must take notice that when a man swears three times at one place in the state of Ihram, he has committed al-Jidal (swearing), and he must offer an animal offering and give it as charity. For swearing only once which is a lie, he has committed al-Jidal (swearing), he must offer an animal offering and give it as charity.’ He (the Imam) has said, ‘Avoid boastfulness and you must stay away from sins in obedience to Allah; Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, “Then you must remove the dirt away from you, fulfill your vows and perform Tawaf around the free House.’” (21:28) Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is of al-Tafath (dirt) to speak improper words. When you enter Makkah, perform Tawaf around the House and speak nice words, it will be expiation (for speaking improper words).’ I asked him (the Imam) about the man who says, ‘No, I swear by my life, yes, by my life.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘That is not swearing. Swearing is saying, ‘No, by Allah, yes, by Allah.’”