to be applied generally will say: “If something prevents me” is an indefinite expression occurring in a conditional clause, and thus encompasses all such impediments. At that moment, illness may have been on her mind, yet another impediment may arise, such as menstruation, fear, running out of funds, the death of her mahram, or the like. I hope there is no harm in applying the wording generally; otherwise, the circumstances may qualify its generality.

If someone were to ask: If a person makes this stipulation without anticipating any impediment—according to the view that stipulating is not recommended unless one fears an impediment—will this stipulation benefit him?

The answer is that there are two views:

The first view: It does benefit him, because although this was stated in connection with a particular cause, what counts is the generality of its wording.

The second view: It does not benefit him, because it is an unlegislated stipulation, and what is unlegislated is not to be followed and has no effect. In my view, this is closer to what is correct, because if we say that making such a stipulation is not recommended, then it is not legislated; and what is not legislated is not to be followed, nor does anything result from it. If we were to say that a legal ruling results from it despite its being unlegislated, this would entail a kind of contradiction of the rulings of the Sacred Law.

Issue: If a man enters into ihram and says, “Here I am, O Allah, for an umrah; and I may exit ihram whenever I wish,” is this condition valid?

The answer is: It is not valid, because it contradicts the very requirement of ihram. The requirement of ihram is that one must proceed with the rite, and that one has no choice in the matter. You are not the one who determines the rulings of the Sacred Law; rather, the One who determines its rulings is Allah, Exalted is He, and His Messenger, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him.