Ihram

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Ihram is a crucial part of pilgrimage and it is a state declared by Muslim Pilgrims in a certain place with a given intentions . Ihram is comprised of Sunah of Ihram and there are a few kinds.

Sunah of Ihram

1) Cleanliness: Including taking bath, clipping one’s nails, and perfuming oneself: Aisha reported “I used to apply perfume to the Prophet (S.A.S.) before he wore his hajj garb”.

2) Praying two rak’ahs: within which, one should make the intention to assume the state for Ihram. In the first rak’ah one should recite surat Al-Kafiron, and recite surat Al-Ikhlas in the second rak’ah after the recitation of surat Al-Fatihah. Ibn Umar reported: The Prophet (S.A.S.) used to offer two Rak’ahs at Dhul-Hulaifah.

Pilgrims take off the sewn clothes and put on the hajj garb, which is compulsory. The hajj garb is composed of two sheets of cloth, one of these is wrapped round the upper part of the body except the head (i.e. Reda’), and the other (Izar) is wrapped round the lower part of the body. These are for men, while women are allowed to wear their usual clothes, which islam permits them to wear, provided they don’t cover the face nor the hands.

Women are not allowed to perfume themselves either.
Women during their monthly period and confined women are allowed to perform all the rites of hajj except Tawaf, i.e. circumambulation around Ka’ba. It should be delayed till they become pure thereof.
Those who travel by plane are advised to do all the previously mentioned sunah at home and to put on the Ihram garb before going to the place and start the rites of hajj when the plane approaches the miqat. They should, also know that if one makes Ihram before his miqat, his/her hajj is accepted, but if he makes Ihram after the miqat, he must offer a sacrifice.

Kinds of Ihram:

1) Ifrad: hajj only.
2) Qiran: combining both hajj and umrah.
3) Tamattu: combining both hajj and umrah with a break in between.

Which kind of Ihram is the most preferable?
The summery of what Imam Al-Nawawi said in his book of Al-Idah is:
* Qiran is the best for those who do not make umrah in the same year of hajj, and do not have enough time to make each of them separately.
* Tamattu is the best for those who do not make umrah in the same year of hajj, and have enough time.
* Ifrad is the best for those who have already made umrah in the same year of hajj.

Whenever the Prophet (S.A.S.) had a choice, he chose the easiest, since the Prophet (S.A.S.) commanded the companions to terminate their state of ihram and change their hajj into umrah and then make hajj.

Some people may choose Ifrad to avoid offering a sacrificial animal, but doing this makes it difficult for them. It also shows lack of fiqh, since Allah has made it easy, Allah says “Whoever performs the umrah in the months of hajj, he must slaughter a hadi (sacrificial animal) such as he can afford, but if he can not afford it, he should observe saum (fasts) three days during hajj and seven days after his return (to his home) making ten days an all. This is for him whose family is not present at Al-Masjid Al-Haram (i.e. Makkah)”. Fasting the ten days should be as follows: three days during hajj but before the day of Arafah, if one can not do this, he should fast during the days of At-tashreeq. If he can’t, he should fast them with the seven days when he goes back home.

Prohibited acts during Ihram:

Allah forbids certain things for a pilgrim after he wears the ihram garb:
1) Wearing perfumes.
2) Clipping nails, shaving and cutting or removing hair by any means from the head or any part of the body.
3) Hunting on land.
4) Cutting the trees or grass of Makkah.
5) Sexual intercourse and all matters such as kissing and contracting marriage.
6) Wearing any sewn clothes (for men).
7) Covering one’s head (for men).
8) Gloves and niqab (for women).
9) Committing sins and lewdness and unjust disputes.
The penalty of violating any of the prohibited acts of Ihram, other than sexual intercourse with one’s wife, is slaughtering a sheep or refunding six needy people or fasting three days.
Sexual intercourse with one’s wife or ejaculating semen as a result of any contact before tawaf Al-ifadah invalidates hajj. In such a case one must complete his hajj and slaughter a cow or seven sheep and must repeat his hajj.

What is permitted to a pilgrim (muhrim):

1) Taking a bath and changing clothes.
2) Covering the face from dust and so on.
3) Itching the head or body.
4) Treatment from pain.
5) Looking in the mirror and smelling sweet basil.
6) Wearing a belt pocket to keep one’s money and wearing a ring.
7) Putting kuhl in the eye which is not for adornment
8) Sitting under the shade of an umbrella, tent, roof.. etc.

Parent page: Pilgrimage