Recognized worldwide as the Arab Republic of Egypt, it is located in Africa in the westernmost part of the place where the sun rises, or Mashrek. It is an area made up of the Sahara Desert and the Nile River, which has great stories that have been spread throughout the centuries through its traditional Egyptian mythology in art.
Egyptian art
Ihram also refers to the sacred state that a pilgrim must enter before performing the rites of Hajj and Umrah. The pilgrim must enter this state after cleansing the body, wearing the prescribed attire, and making the intention, before crossing the designated Miqat.
1. What is Ihram?
To perform Umrah or Hajj, a Muslim man or woman must enter Ihram. Without Ihram, Umrah or Hajj cannot be performed. And what is Ihram? Basically, Ihram is the sacred state in which the rituals required to complete Hajj or Umrah are performed. However, they must also wear special clothing designed for the purpose of performing Umrah or Hajj.
The Ihram for men differs from that for women. While the Ihram for men consists of two white cloths that leave some parts of the body uncovered, the Ihram for women is a dress that completely covers the body, leaving only the face and hands exposed. A woman cannot cover her face if she wishes to do so, as this is prohibited during the pilgrimage.
Upon entering Ihram, it is recommended that a woman perform Gusl (purification bath). It is important to make the Niyah (intention) to bathe for Ihram. However, if adequate water is not available for Ghusl, one may perform Wudu (ablution) and continue with their Hajj/Umrah rituals.
However, women are also allowed to wear normal clothes if Ihram is not available. Make sure that the clothes worn to enter Ihram completely cover the wearer’s body, leaving the hands and face uncovered.
It is also recommended that both men and women offer two Rak’ah (Salah) with the Niyah of assuming the state of Ihram. Every pilgrim should know that Ihram must be worn before passing the Miqat (the place from where Ihram originates). Al-Bukhari states that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “One should not pass the Miqat unless he is in the state of Ihram.” (Al-Bukhari)
Finally, one must avoid acts that are prohibited for a person in the state of Ihram, such as: using Attar (perfume), wearing makeup, wearing socks, etc. May Allah (SWT) give us the opportunity to go to Ihram during the dates of Umrah and Hajj and only leave it after performing Umrah or Hajj.
2. Restrictions
A man in the state of ihram should not tie knots or wear sewn items. Sandals and flip-flops should also not be sewn and should allow the ankle and back of the foot to be exposed (some other schools of thought also agree that the front of the foot should also be exposed).
If the robe has been soiled with najas (unclean) material or has been cleaned, rubbed, or touched by perfumed liquids (intentionally), then a new ihram garment must be worn, or the Umrah or Hajj will be invalid.
During ihram, women must have their faces uncovered; they are prohibited from wearing the burka or niqab. However, the Hijab or Dupatta is mandatory, and there is no gender segregation during Hajj. Unlike in mosques, men and women pray together, not only in the same area but also in the same prayer line. This is to remind everyone that on the Day of Judgment, both men and women will stand together, side by side, in the same rows.
3. Conduct and hygiene
They should also not wear any perfume, including deodorant. Muslim women are also expected to be clean. During the pilgrimage, sexual activity, smoking, and insults are also prohibited.
Women must exercise strict modesty in their appearance and should not apply makeup, perfume, or any other cosmetics.
All flirtatious, arrogant, and rude thoughts must be set aside, as well as daily life. Muslims must forget about their studies, business, and relationships and focus on God.
4. When flying
A sign detailing departure flights and the location of a dedicated ihram room at Queen Alia International Airport, Amman, Jordan.
When traveling on pilgrimage, appropriate measures are usually taken to ensure that pilgrims are in the state of ihram when flying over or near miqat stations. For this reason, some airports in Muslim areas have dedicated ihram rooms.
5. Ihram clothing
Ihram clothing (Ahram clothing) includes clothing for men and women worn by Muslims during the Ihram pilgrimage (Hajj) and/or (Umrah).
6. Meaning of Ihram
The word Ihram is derived from the Arabic verb harama, which means “to be forbidden.” It refers to a state of purity in which the pilgrim must be in order to perform the Hajj, the Umrah, or both before entering the perimeter of Mecca. After having made the intention of Ihram, the pilgrim must abide by its prohibitions.
An individual in the state of Ihram is known as Muhrim, which literally means “one who has forbidden things to himself.” The two-piece garment worn by men is also known as the Ihram.
7. Importance of Ihram
Ihram is a state of purity, both in mind and body. It is primarily a state of mind, whereby a spiritual relationship with God is established and the vanities of the world are renounced. Hajj is an egalitarian rite in the sense that all of humanity, regardless of gender, sect, ethnicity, rank, or wealth, is equal before God. The attire of Ihram, two pieces of unsewn white cloth, removes all appearance of social, cultural, and political differences in the interest of equality before God.
8. When to enter Ihram
Ihram must be assumed before crossing the border of the Miqat. If the Miqat is crossed without having entered the state of Ihram, a penalty must be paid as expiation, although the Hajj or Umrah will remain valid.
According to the Hanafi school of thought, it is more meritorious to enter Ihram while beginning the Hajj journey from your hometown, while the Maliki and Hanbali schools assert that assuming Ihram before reaching the Miqat is more virtuous.
Assuming you choose to enter Ihram before the tip of the Miqat and are traveling by plane, you will have different options for where you can change into your Ihram attire, depending on the airline you are flying with.
9. Preparation
Before wearing the Ihram attire, you must be in a state of physical purity and take care of your personal hygiene at home, as instructed by the Prophet Abu Hurayrah I narrates:
I heard the Prophet say, “Five things are part of nature: circumcision, removal of pubic hair, trimming the mustache, trimming the nails, and removal of hair from under the armpits.”
You must do the following:
- You must trim the nails on your hands and toes.
- Remove hair under the armpits.
- Remove hair below the navel.
- Trim the mustache.
Next, you must perform Ghusl, an act highly recommended for those who intend to assume Ihram. It is Sunnah for every man, woman, and child, including women who are menstruating or experiencing postnatal bleeding, to bathe before putting on the garments of Ihram.
A woman experiencing menstruation may perform all the rituals of Hajj except the Tawaf of the Kaaba and the two Rakahs of Nafl that accompany it.
A woman experiencing menstruation or postnatal bleeding should take a bath, enter Ihram, and perform all the rites of Hajj except the circumambulation of the House, until she becomes pure.
It is Makruh to neglect Ghusl without a valid reason. If, for some reason, Ghusl cannot be performed, Wudhu must be performed.
10. Ihram for men
Men must remove any clothing that is sewn or tailored to the shape of the body, such as shirts, pants, vests, and underwear, before entering the state of Ihram. You may delay removing any clothing that violates the conditions of Ihram, such as underwear, until the point of Miqat, at which time you must make the intention for Ihram.
The attire of Ihram consists of two pieces of plain white cloth known as the Izar, which wraps around the waist covering the lower part of the body, and the Rida, which extends over the shoulders covering the upper part of the body like a shawl. Shoes/sandals may be sewn or unsewn, but they must not cover the heel and ankle bones.
The Hanafi school of thought also stipulates that the top of the foot (specifically the area of the instep where the shoelace is normally tied) must also remain uncovered.
11. Other things to keep in mind
Avoid buying a very thin cotton Ihram, as it may stick to you and become uncomfortable if you sweat. Thicker cotton garments or towels are preferable and can later be folded into towels, blankets, or other items.
- Men should not wear undergarments or head coverings, even during Salah.
- The right shoulder must be covered at all times, except during Tawaf al-Umrah or Tawaf al-Qudum.
- Shoes/slippers should not cover the ankle and the top of the foot.
- Do not walk without the upper sheet (Rida).
- Keep your Ihram clean and avoid using it to clean yourself.
- Be especially careful how you sit while in Ihram, so as not to expose yourself. As you will not be wearing underwear, you may accidentally expose your private parts if you are not careful.
- Do not throw the upper part of the Ihram (Rida) over your shoulder—this may hit someone behind you.
- It is a good idea to practice wearing and walking with the Ihram on beforehand so that you become accustomed to it. Remember that you will spend 2 to 3 days in this state if you are performing Hajj.
- Men may apply perfume to their head or beard, taking care not to put it on their Ihram garments.
12. Ihram for women
Women are not required to adhere to a specific dress code and are free to wear whatever they please. Needless to say, clothing should be normal, modest Islamic dress with a head covering of any color. Socks may be worn, but the hands and face must be uncovered.
Although it is forbidden to cover the face, a cloth may be worn over the face without touching it. This is based on a narration from Aisha J:
We were with the Prophet while we were in Ihram. When a rider passed us, we would lower our garments from the top of our heads, and when he had gone, we would raise them again.
13. Salah al-Ihram
After changing into your Ihram, it is Sunnah to perform two Rakahs of Salah al-Ihram before making the intention to enter the state of Ihram, according to the consensus of the four schools of law. This should be done before you have crossed the Miqat. As long as it is not one of the times when prayer is prohibited, observe the Salah with the intention of performing two Rakahs Nafl for Ihram.
If any other prayer is performed after changing into the Ihram attire and before making the intention, whether obligatory or Sunnah (such as the two Rakahs Salah for greeting the mosque), one should fulfill this prayer, even if there was no intention to do so.
Women who are menstruating should not perform Salah, but should instead make their intention for Hajj or Umrah and recite the Talbiyah.
