Ihram is the sacred spiritual state that every pilgrim must enter before performing the rituals, before Sa’i has begun, before any rite of Umrah has taken place. Halq is the final step to the sacred state that legitimatizes all acts of Umrah, its performance matters more than almost anything else you prepare for your journey.
Pilgrims from the UK who arrive in the country for their first ever umrah know what to expect in broad terms: men wear white clothes, women dress modestly, certain things are forbidden. What is hazy and covered in full in this guide are the details behind those basics. What is Ihram and why does it exist exactly, what becomes haram when you enter it, practicalities, how do you sleep, go to the toilet etc. and if something goes wrong with Ihram.
What Is Ihram?
Ihram refers to the state of purity in which Muslim Pilgrims are obliged to enter before their pilgrimage, as well as the actual garments worn by pilgrims performing Hajj and Umrah. It should state the obvious: The word originates from its Arabic root haramas in forbidden or sacred, since entering into Ihram makes things that were once allowed to be forbidden and therefore at once sanctifying the pilgrim as one who has stepped out of ordinary life temporarily for higher ideals.
The prophet ﷺ said about Ihram garments: Do not wear shirts, turbans or trousers or hooded cloaks or shoes except that one who cannot find sandals (should wear them); but let him shorten them from his ankles down. (Sahih Bukhari 1542)
When a worshipper enters in prayer, he begins with Takbeer but thereafter there are restrictions on him; similarly a pilgrim goes into Ihram of Umrah and thereafter from that moment until the pilgrimage is completed he has certain restrictions enforced upon him.
Ihram is in reality not just an attire. This is a method of spiritual orientation all the way through. The apparel on men is white cloth all around which stands everyone similar to the person next to him; every pilgrim appears as someone with no possessions, no symbols of rank, there is not one king or factory worker standing apart from each other. This equality is serious and one of the strongest things about standing at the Haram.
How to Enter the State of Ihram
A pilgrim does several things before he puts on Ihram. It is strongly recommended (Sunnah) because of evidence from the Prophet ﷺ which has been reported by many Companions. For instance, if Ghusl cannot be performed by an ailing person or someone who has other justifiable reasons, the pilgrim can enter Ihram without performing Ghusl and their Umrah would still count.
Before Ihram, wearing perfume is allowed and it is sunnah. Essentially, you must put perfume on the person before putting your Ihram on not putting it on the clothes themselves. Using perfume on clothes when putting on Ihram is completely prohibited. Your fragrance at the time and also afterwards when you are in Ihram must be none.
Nails must be cut, and body hair removed before entering Ihram for men as these are not permissible once the state has commenced.
Then the intention (niyyah) for Umrah is made and thereafter Talbiyah: Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk, Labbayk la shareeka laka Labbayk, innal-hamda wan-ni’mata laka wal-mulk lab-yad. It should be recited from entering Ihram until commencing Tawaf.
For a UK pilgrim flying to Jeddah, you will usually be crossing the Miqat (the point at which Ihram must be entered) whilst you are still in the air. Pilgrims are typically advised well before crossing the Miqat to have completed changes into their Ihram clothes and made their intention prior to crossing the Miqat, which is usually announced by airlines operating Umrah routes.
Men’s Ihram: What to Wear
For Men, Ihram is two unstitched white plain cloths. The rida, covering the upper body and draped over the left shoulder and under the right. The izar ranges from the waist down about the lower body. However, neither cloth is sewn together or tied/tacked with pins even if you wear a money belt or waist belt.
Men are also supposed to stay away from any type of head covering during Ihram. No cap, no turban, nothing on the head.
The shoes can not be covered at all on the top of the foot or ankle; only open sandals. As in the above hadith, if sandals are not really available shoes are allowed to wear after cutting below ankle level.
Ihram clothing doesn’t have to new; it just needs to be unsoiled. Your Ihram can be washed throughout the journey and you would wear them once again, changing or washing your clothes do not break the state of Ihram.
Women’s Ihram: What to Wear
Women, on the other hand, have a way more simplistic approach to their Ihram. Women are also allowed to dress in any modest loose fitting and generally ample covering article of clothing that covers their body, but nothing is mandated there is no color or specific garment, however white is a common colour. Main conditions are: loose fitting cloth, non-translucent and covering all of the body except for face and palms.
Women must keep their faces uncovered. It is prohibited to wear niqab or face veil (purda) in the state of Ihram. Which is proved in the hadith of Ibn Umar: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade the woman pilgrim to cover her face. While some scholars allow a woman to drop her head covering over her face when in the presence of non-related men (effectively, lowering her veil), a true niqab is forbidden.
Women must not wear gloves. Just like in the case of a face, the hands should not be covered during Ihram.
Women must cover their hair. Ihram forbids head covering, but a hijab is obligatory and the head must be covered throughout your time in Ihram.
Menstruating women can wear ihram and do all that they have to until the time for hajj of tawaf is reached but they are not allowed to perform tawaf until their menstruation stops (in its allotted time limit) as well as a bath- ( ghusl ) from impurity. They do all the rest of (the journey to Makkah), saying Talbiyah and perform Sa’i while menstruating.
What Are the Rules of Ihram?
It is to be noticed that when you enter the state of Ihram, you have not completed your Umrah.
You must keep saying Talbiyah routinely while on your way to the Haram, in between rituals, and wherever you walk until Tawaf starts.
As similar conditions apply to worship, when you are required to keep wudu (i.e. ritual purity), your condition must be the same during prayer time.
You are not allowed to do any of the actions that you are prohibited from doing during Ihram (which we will cover in full detail under a later section).
You should do this with the thought that you want to keep these Ihram clothes till the completion of human acts, entering in Ihram then just leaving off without completing the rituals is a case for which it is necessary to make a penalty offering (fidyah).
What Is Forbidden During Ihram?
The bit that I expect the majority of UK pilgrims would like to know crisp before travelling. Prohibiting things of Ihram from the following time.
Perfume and scented products. You cannot use perfume, deodorant, scented soap or shampoo. You can shower, wash your hair using unscented products, and bathing itself is not a sin. However, we have to avoid all scented items like everything has a scent even the wet wipes.
Cutting or removing hair. While on Ihram, one must not use scissors to remove hair from any part of the body. This involves cutting the beard, cutting off the hair on your head before the ceremony is done and removing underarm or other body hairs.
Clipping or cutting nails. Nail Clipping and cutting both fingernails and toenails are forbidden whilst in the Holiest State of Ihram. That is also why nail function before entering the state is recommended.
Wearing stitched or sewn clothing (for men). What men cannot wear include shirts, pants, underwear or anything like turbans any cloth that is cut-sewn to fit the body. Only two unstitched clothes are allowed to wear. The same does not apply to women, who must wear their ordinary modest attire.
Covering the head (for men). During Ihram, men have to constantly be completely head naked, no caps, hoods, nothing resting on their heads. Women have to cover their head the same as mentioned above.
Sexual activity. Any kind of sexual relations between spouses is strictly forbidden in Ihram. One of the most severe prohibitions in major misconduct invalidates the Umrah. Such activities encompass kissing, fondling, and intimate conversation which is intended to sexually arouse.
Getting married or performing a marriage contract. Saying the nikah/ marriage contract or conducting it during Ihram is prohibited.
Hunting or killing land animals. Hunting of any wild land animal is not allowed in Ihram. It is also strictly prohibited, even for a person not in Ihram, to kill or injure any animal within the limits of the Haram. Removing lice from (the body is similarly forbidden; if hair falls as a result of scratching, some scholars demand a fidyah.
Cutting plants within the Haram boundaries. The uprooting, cutting, or breaking branches of living trees within the Haram is prohibited.
Arguing and sinful behaviour. Any loud voice, abusive talk or sinful behaviour is against the spirit and the validity of Ihram. The Quran says: And when you undertake (the rites of) the Hajj, then there are no obscenities or acts of sin and no quarrelling The Commentary of the Verse (Surah al-Baqarah 2:197) Although this verse refers to Hajj, but as Imam Ahmad has narrated from Ibn Abbas radiallahu anhu this also applies to Umrah.
What Is Permitted During Ihram?
This group of pilgrims are excessive in their caution about what is allowed and also that which is considered mustahabb (recommended) while in a state of ihram, but went better off than haram. The following are all permitted.
Washing with unscented soap and shampoo while showering. You are not breaking the state by changing or washing the Ihram clothes while wearing clean Ihram. Eating and drinking normally. Reading the Quran, doing dua and dhikr. Applying unscented lip balm if necessary. Wearing a watch, glasses, a ring or moneybelts. Whether it’s carrying a bag or an umbrella. Wearing hearing aids or spectacles. Extermination of pest insects like mosquitoes. If medically necessary use unscented medical products, but as much less as possible.
How to Use a Toilet While in Ihram
Any UK pilgrims coming to Makkah alone to pray or seek healing experience this as one of their most important practical questions, and it is due a concrete answer instead of fluff.
When in the state of Ihram, you are allowed to visit the toilet, and it does not break or invalidate your Ihram. Ihram does not require, as Tawaf, the noble state of ritual purity which you reside into it incessantly; Ihram is preserved through mere intention and by avoiding prohibited actions that break it there is no need for you to keep performing wudu.
As for you if a man must be careful not to touch the Ihram clothes and directory through excretory places. Your izar (the lower cloth) should be put up as well, carefully. You can also image the top half of the garment up or tucking as necessary. It can also make it a lot easier to go to the toilet as many pilgrims wear a simple waist pouch that keeps the izar or similar garment in place.
When you are completed, return back to the washroom, do istinja and make wuduu again when ready to pray. The external contacts do not go away from the state of Ihram themselves.
For women, the same goes for going to the toilet in Ihram, it is totally basic and does not invalidate (the state) either. Likewise, it is still the case that wudhu is renewed for prayer according to normal cleanliness with stools.
For pilgrims from the United Kingdom, one practical note: there are plenty of toilets available in and around Masjid al-Haram (the Great Mosque), however they get extremely busy at peak times. You will stand in line a lot less if you avoid peak times to pray, and knowing where the nearest toilets are to your accommodation saves teeth-gritting angst.
Can I Sleep in Ihram Before Umrah?
Yes. It is fully permissible to sleep in Ihram, and it does not nullify the state in any way. While in Ihram there is no need to stay awake, not praying or having a particular state physically, regular rest and sleep are perfectly normal.
This matters in practical terms for UK pilgrims Most come to Makkah on a long overnight or early morning flight arriving and entering into Ihram on the way and need sleep before continuing with Umrah. So it is OK (and recommended) to sleep whilst on the flight in Ihram or when he rests at the hotel after checking-in or resting before going to the Haram.
So here are some practical points that may be of interest to you regarding sleeping in Ihram.
Men: Be careful of the way you sleep such that the Ihram clothes do not come out/move. Most pilgrims sleep on their side or shift the izar around gently to keep it in place.
Wudu: Now, sleeping breaks in wudu which means you need to perform it before any prayer but the state of wudhu is different from the Ihram! Sleep itself is not the thing that is affected by the state.
Unscented products: Make sure that any product you use before sleep lip balm, moisturiser is completely unscented.
Timing: A lot of pilgrims get to the haram in the afternoon and benefit from sleeping a couple of hours before Umrah doing Tawaf and Sa’i in the evening or during night when it is cooler and somewhat less crowded. Perfectly done approach.
Common Mistakes UK Pilgrims Make in Ihram
Applying perfume to Ihram garments. It is not prohibited to wear it before Ihram on the body. No perfume on the cloth. And that distinction trips up a host of first-time pilgrims.
Assuming bathing is forbidden. Showering and bathing is allowed but only with unscented products. The ban is on fragrance and not cleanliness.
Men covering their heads accidentally. This includes an action such as adjusting one’s earphone, wearing a baseball cap in a non-Muslim spot on transit or using their handbag to shield the sun. Why not use both of those are violations against the head-covering restriction. This must be the awareness of men right from when they enter Ihram.
Not knowing the Miqat timing on the flight. UK Pilgrims must enter Ihram before the flight reaches the Miqat. This is what many airlines announce, if you do not just enter Ihram before boarding for the best chance of avoiding missing the Miqat.
Removing hair unintentionally and panicking. Wirat is an intentional hair or two, for instance this does not invalidate Ihram but rather requires a penalty if it was intended and used at the time of washing. A ban on the removal of hair in a deliberate manner.
Using scented wet wipes. They’re common in the Haram and so many pilgrims use them to keep them fresh just a bit. These must not be used whilst being in Ihram if they are scented. Unscented wet wipes are fine.
What Happens If You Break an Ihram Rule?
The majority of scholars state that if someone does an affirmation that is forbidden unintentionally and without knowledge, due to forgetfulness or genuine ignorance the act is forgiven and no penalty applies. The state of Ihram continues.
If the act is intentional or due to neglect, there can be a penalty (fidyah) that applies. There are generally three options for fidyah: sacrificing an animal, providing food for six needy people, or fasting for three days. Depending on which prohibition has been violated, there is a specific fidyah as the penalty. For major violations especially those that relate to some sexual activity the penalties are greater and you should reference an expert Islamic scholar.
What UK pilgrims must understand is that the system of Ihram has built into it provisions for being human, for forgetting, for accidents, for realities en route. Don’t let the fear of making a wrong decision stop you from taking the trip.
