Ihram for Hajj and Umrah: Complete Guide on Wearing and Observing its Rule

When visiting the house of Allah, either for Hajj or Umrah, there is a state of Ihram that Muslims need to enter. It is a state of mind and body that Muslims adopt before the pilgrimage. Ihram involves wearing specific clothing and following certain rules. In this article, we will discuss the concept of Ihram for Hajj and Umrah.

What is Ihram?

Ihram is a state of sacredness that Muslims enter before visiting the Miqat. It is a boundary where the Muslims enter the state of Ihram before continuing their journey to Makkah. The location of Ihram is designated by the Islamic law.

The meaning of the word Ihram is ‘to make something forbidden’. People refer to Ihram as a state of sacredness, spiritual purity, and devotion when discussing Hajj and Umrah.

What is the purpose of Ihram?

The purpose of the Ihram is to explain why Muslims wear it from Miqat to Haram during Hajj or Umrah.

Purification:

Ihram is a source of spiritual purification and allows pilgrims to cleanse their intentions and souls.

Devotion:

It is a symbol of devotion and submission to Allah, and they serve themselves to perform the rituals of the pilgrimage peacefully.

Equality:

Ihram symbolises equality among all the pilgrims from different castes and creeds. It says that the Muslims are not judged by Allah on the basis of their physical appearance or any other worldly commodity; instead, Muslims are judged on the basis of their faith and devotion.

Humility:

Ihram promotes humility and modesty, and the pilgrims become humble and abandon worldly attachments and focus on building their spiritual connection with their creator.

What are the rules of Ihram for men and women?

The Ihram of a man consists of two seamless clothes, one for the lower body and the other for the upper body, which are worn on the left shoulder, leaving the right shoulder naked.

However, there is no special Ihram clothing for women. They can wear anything that is modest and comfortable. Women need to conceal their full bodies except hands and feet. They should leave their face uncovered. No piece of clothing—hijab or niqab— should touch the face.

These are the rules and restrictions that the person has to follow once he enters the state of Ihram:

What not to do in Ihram includes the following, so during Ihram a pilgrim is prohibited from:

• Cut or trim hair and nails
• Use perfume or even fragrant substances; they must use unscented soap
• Engage in sexual activity
• Hunt or kill animals
• Quarrel or dispute

However, these are a few actions that the pilgrims must do during Ihram:

• Recite Talbiyah
• Do Dikhr
• Be patient and kind
• Follow the instructions and guidelines of the Hajj guides

When to enter a state of Ihram?

Pilgrims enter the state of Ihram before reaching Miqat, which is the boundary for entering this state for Hajj and Umrah.

The pilgrims can also wear ihram during their journeys if they are travelling by air. It depends on their mode of transport. Moreover, before entering the state of Ihram, the pilgrims must make niyyah, or intention, purely for the sake of Allah ‘s Umrah or Hajj. After that, the pilgrims must recite Talbiyah until they reach Makkah.

Al-Bukhari states that Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said:

“One shouldn’t pass the Miqat unless he/she is in the state of Ihram.”

(Al-Bukhari)

Moreover, if you’re taking your child for Umrah, he must also wear Ihram, and for children under 7 years of age, the guardians will make the niyyah, and once they enter the state of Ihram, they must also follow the Ihram restrictions.

The Ihram clothing requirements for pilgrims include two white seamless clothes for men, and women do not have any specific Ihram. They must wear modest and fully covered clothing in the state of Ihram.

Now let’s have a look at the step-by-step guide to wearing Ihram:

• Perform ghusl
• Trim nails and unwanted hair before entering Ihram
• Wear Ihram: For men, wrap one cloth on your lower body known as Izar and the other on your left shoulder known as Rida. Women must change into neat clothes.
• Make niyyat you can also offer Salah-al-Ihram
• Recite Talbiyah
• Follow Ihram rules

By understanding the meaning and purpose of Ihram and gathering all the information about it, pilgrims can deepen their spiritual connection, which will help them make their journey memorable.