Entering Medina without Ihram for those who live close

Question:
We live in a city close to Medina Munawwara. I wanted to inquire if we
are allowed to travel to Makkah without Ihraam. If for instance, we
want to go to Makkah to meet relatives who've come for Hajj or Umrah,
can we go there without Ihraam with the intention of only doing
tawaaf? Some people are of the view that its strictly forbidden to
travel to Makkah withoutIhraam (under Hanafi Madhab). Kindly guide us
the Shariah ruling in this regard. We would beextremly grateful.
Answer:
Assalamu alaykum
In the name of Allah the Inspirer of truth.
According to the scholars of Islam, the area of the haram is a
sanctified area and anyone who ventures therein is required to observe
certain proceduresof pilgrim sanctity or ihram, and fulfill certain
rites like umra to the house of Allah.
Hence, the Hanafi position on this is that it is not permitted to
enter into the haram area (and pass the miqat) except with a valid
ihram (Radd al-muhtar).
You may want speak to some local Hanafi scholars in Madina Munawwara
or Makka Mukarrama if any special concessions can be made based on the
Shafi'i school, for instance, for taxi drivers who face this issue all
the time. However, for someone visiting the haram area occasionally
like yourself, there should not be any need to look for concessions
and instead benefit from the blessedness of the area.
And Allah knows best.

Using contraceptive pills in order to perform hajj

Question:
Asslamoualaikoum,
Alhamdullilah, my family and I are planning to perform hajj this year.
I wouldlike to know if my sisters and I can use contraceptive pills in
order to perform our hajj without having to worry about getting our
periods there?
Jazah kallah khayr
Answer:
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
I pray this finds you in the best of health and spirits.
It is permitted to use such pills.

Umrah with Father's Foster-Father

Question:
Am I allowed to go to umrah with my father's foster father who looked
after my father for many year from the age of 13 onwards, is this man
a mahram to me? I would sincerely like to know if Ican because I need
to make arrangements for me to go to umrah with him and his wife.
Answer:
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
Your father's foster father, i.e. the man who looked after your father
from the age of 13, is not considered a Mahram to you; hence it will
not be permitted to travel for Umrah with him, unless you are
accompanied by a Mahram.
The reason being is that being a Mahram is established through the
relationship of lineage (qarabah), breastfeeding (radha'ah) and
marriage (musaharah). As such, this person looking after your father
when your father was young does not make him a Mahram to you.
And Allah knows best

I am impatient and awaiting to perform umrah.

Question:
I am currently a 19-year old girl, and compared to many people still
very young. For 2 years now I have been waiting to go to Saudi Arabia
and wanting to perform umrah.
But I have not been able to. I was born a Muslim and a follow Islam
from my own heart. However, I am currently a practicing Muslim and
have been praying namaz everyday for 2 years now. I started wearing
the hijaab 1 year ago.
I have not had a great upbringing and I have not always been perfect.
However, each and everyday when I make duaa, I pray I go to do umrah.
I am now financially stable, and I have not committed any sins and I
believe I am the best I can be at this moment of this life as a
Muslim.
A question that approaches my mind is I ask to be called to Makkah but
have not yet been. Many keep saying you will be called when it is your
time, but I havenever wanted anything more. I was meant to come with
someone but he won't take me as he only wants to take his own wife and
child.
Every time I think about umrah I start crying. I had my hopes up and
thought I would go this Ramadan. I currently have no mehram and so no
plans.
I don't know what to do,because I keep getting upset and thinking if I
am being a good Muslimwhy is my duaa to come to Makkah not being
fulfilled. I do not know if I am being selfish and asking for this.
But I do not know what to do or who to talk to. I find it hard to talk
to family members about this, as Idon't think anyone understands me.
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah. May Allah's peace and blessingsbestow upon our
beloved Prophet, his family, and companions.
Dear Sister,
I pray this finds you in good health and spirits.
I completely sympathize with your desire to visit the House of Allah.
My advice to you about dua is to remember the following:
Dua or supplication is a very powerful means of communicating your
needs and desires to Allah Most High. Don't despair that your prayers
haven't been answered. We cannot guarantee the outcome of our prayers.
Rather, we pray sincerely, take the necessary steps toachieve our
goals, and leave the rest to Allah.
If He has decreed that you will visit His House, then nothing can
prevent you from going. Likewise, if He has decreed that you will not
make umrah, no earthly power can change this.
One of the most importantaspects of iman is being contented with
Allah's qadr, or divine decree. If you are not able to make umrah,
then you will not be held responsible. It's important to have the
intention to do umrah because, as the Prophet (peace be upon him)
said,"Actions are according to intentions."
As a young woman, you have to consider the practical aspects of
traveling. The general consensus of the four Sunni schools of law is
that it is impermissible for a woman to undertake a long journey
without a husband or mahram. The Shafi'i and Maliki Schools do allow a
special dispensation for a woman who performs an obligatory hajj (her
first hajj) with a group of upright people.
Umrah is not obligatory for Hanafis, but is an emphasized Sunna. If I
may suggest, it may be better to focus your energies on Hajj. A lot of
people put off Hajj, thinking they'll make it when they're older. The
only problem is they've accumulated so much debtby that time that they
still can't go!
Don't lose hope. You're still young. Focus your energies on
establishing your deen, learning about your religion, and bringingyour
life into accord with what the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave us.
Allah willing, this will openup the doors of tawfiq, or true success.
Allah Most High hears yourprayers. He responds in many different ways.
I'm including some links from SunniPath that address the issues of dua
and women's travel:
"Can my aunty's husband (mother's brother in-law) be my mehram?"