What are the Ihram Rules for Ladies vs Men?
Hajj and Umrah are the holy pilgrimage and are a pilgrimage that a Muslim makes to the sacred city of Makkah to become the Guest of Allah (SWT). But how do you start? What’s the first step? Well, it begins with the Ihram rules because Ihram is a sacred state and is regarded as the official starting point.
There are some rules that you should follow about what you wear and what you do. These regulations are a great help; they prepare your mind and make the rest of the journey clearer. The rules are generally the same for all; there are slight differences between men and women, which you should be aware of. Know these details now and learn how to perform pilgrimage from the best online Quran academy! In that case, you will not have to worry about not doing anything wrong and can concentrate on your prayers 100%.
What Ihram Means
The literal meaning of Ihram is to make “forbidden” or “to enter a state of prohibition”. Ihram is your mental and physical state, and starts from when you make your intention to start Umrah when you leave home, until you complete your Umrah.
Ihram changes two things: what you do, and how you feel. On the outside: You wear special clothes and stop doing some things. On the inside: You try hard to be patient, stay calm, and be kind to everyone. This state has some behavioural requirements and also physical requirements. There is no requirement for you to have wudhu the whole time of your Ihram; however, you must perform a ghusl just prior to entering Ihram.
Ihram Clothing Rules for Men
When men start Ihram, they wear a very basic outfit. These clothes make everyone equal, rich or poor. They all look the same! Men must follow a fixed dress code: two pieces of unstitched cloth
Men Wear Two Simple Pieces of Clothing
- One cloth (Izaar) that you wrap around the waist (the bottom part)
- And the other cloth (Rida) rests over your shoulder (the top part).
These clothes should remain unstitched. But you can use a safety pin or a belt to avoid the cloth falling off. Using these is okay because you are using them to hold the cloth; they don’t shape it like real clothes. So, when you book your Umrah package, add Ihram at the top of your packing list; you can keep more than one if you want to.
The head must stay uncovered.
Men cannot put anything on their heads, like a hat or cap, because it is not allowed to put anything on their heads. You can use an umbrella to keep cool, because an umbrella does not touch your head.
Simple footwear
No need to wear shoes that cover your whole foot. Men need to wear sandals (open footwear).
No stitched or fitted clothing.
You cannot wear shirts, vests, pants, socks, or underwear. This rule is to make everyone look equal.
Shoulders during Tawaf
Men uncover their right shoulder before the Arrival Tawaf and cover it after it is done.
Ihram Clothing Rules for Women
Women have little flexibility in what they wear; they don’t have to wear those two unstitched clothes.
Can wear regular modest clothing
There is no special Ihram outfit for women. You can wear a loose, modest dress that covers the body properly. It is also not mandatory that you have to wear white; you can choose any colour.
Don’t cover the face
No face veils (niqab) are allowed, and nothing should rest on your face. If you want privacy, you can hang a scarf in front of your face, but make sure it doesn’t touch you.
Don’t cover hands with gloves
Gloves are not allowed. You can keep your hands covered by tucking them into your sleeves.
Footwear
Women can wear any shoes or sandals that feel comfortable, even closed shoes. There are no rules about covering or showing the ankle or the top of the foot.
Hair must remain covered.
Women just keep covering their hair with a headscarf as they normally do.
Grooming Rules for Both Men and Women
These rules apply to everyone in Ihram:
No hair or nail cutting
You should avoid cutting or trimming nails. Brush your hair very carefully so you don’t make it fall out.
No perfume or scented products
When you are in the state of Ihram, don’t use anything that smells like perfumes, scented soaps, or lotions. Make sure your clothes don’t smell like perfume either.
No removing body hair
Do not shave or pluck any hair. You should finish your grooming before you begin Ihram.
Normal hygiene is allowed.
You are allowed to bathe and wash your hands to stay clean. Just be sure to avoid products with scents or those used to remove hair.
Avoid harmful behavior
When you are in Makkah, you are the guest of Allah (SWT), so act like that. Be respectful to everyone. You are allowed to indulge in any kind of arguing, insulting others, or hunting animals. The purpose of the Ihram is to encourage calm behaviour and respect for all life. This is the beauty of islam that every step holds a purpose.
Conclusion
It is very obvious that when Allah commands us to do something, it holds a purpose, whether we understand it or not. So, as Ihram prepares us to be calm and respectful, you should learn the rules, whether you are a woman or a man, so you can stay calm and avoid mistakes in your worship. The only thing that matters is your intention and how much effort you put into the ritual.
