Ihram is the first necessary step to lawfully perform the fifth pillar in Islam; both Minor and Major pilgrimage; Umrah and Hajj. Ihram’s purpose is to enter that state of total devotion to The Lord with zero differences between people; totally equal before Allah their Creator and Judge.
Here we will learn the following:
- Ihram For Females
- Female ihram for Umrah And Hajj
- What does a woman do before ihram?
- Can a menstruating woman make Ihram?
- How does a Muslim woman wear Ihram?
- When and where can women wear ihram for Umrah or Hajj?
- What are the five points of Miqat /Mwaquit?
- What can’t a Muslim woman do during ihram?
- Ending ihram for women after the end of Umrah or Hajj rituals
Ihram For Females:
A Muslim woman puts on ihram which is clean, lose, all-covering clothes except for face and hands, and makes the intention of ihram for Umrah or Hajj, the pilgrim automatically enters the state of ihram. Read also: Hajj And Umrah For Women – Can a Woman Go To Hajj or Umrah Alone Without a Mahram?
Female ihram for Umrah And Hajj
Ihram for Umrah & ihram for Hajj are the same except for the intention. A Muslim woman should make her intention for either or both while dressed in ihram, before or at any Miqat point, and then it’s recommended to do two Rak’at of ihram.
Read: Top 10 Differences Difference Between Hajj and Umrah
Dress Code for Female Ihram
Women can wear any type of clothes to enter the state of Ihram as long as they are neat and clean. Women’s Umrah clothing can include shoes and other types of closed footwear.
The Ihram dress code for women is different than that of men. The rulings for Ihram women’s clothing do not include the same restrictions as men.
Which Colour to Choose for My Ihram Garment?
Women can wear any colour they want unlike men who have to wear a special white Ihram garment.
Yet, the majority of women in Ihram wear white or black Hijabs and Abayas. Thus, it is better for women to follow the majority.
What does a woman do before ihram?
Once a Muslim woman makes her intention to perform Umrah or Hajj, pays back her debts, repents sincerely from all sins and reconciles differences with people to the best of her abilities and actually starts her journey to Makkah then, it’s time for Ihram.
Purification and cleanliness are recommended before ihram. That’s having Ghusl or at least Wudu, clipping fingers and toes nails, shaving pubic and epilating armpit hair.
Read: What Is Ihram in Islam? – 2023 Guide
Can a menstruating woman make Ihram?
Yes, a menstruating or in Nifas (after labor bleeding period) woman can make Ihram and her ihram is valid.
Asma’ bint ‘Umays, the wife of Abu Bakr RAA gave birth, when the Prophet PBUH was camped at Dhu’l-Hulayfah on his way to perform the Farewell Pilgrimage. She sent word to the Prophet PBUH asking him what she should d. He said: “Do Ghusl and tie a piece of cloth around yourself (bottom) and enter ihram.”
This goes for menstruating women as well. Women in both states can do all rituals except for circumambulating the Ka’bah.
The Prophet PBUH said to Aisha, when she menstruated during Umrah: “Do everything that the pilgrims do, but do not circumambulate the House until you become pure.”
Al-Bukhaari and Muslim.
According to Saheeh al-Bukhaari Aisha RAA stated that when she became pure she circumambulated the Ka’bah and did saa’i between al-Safa and al-Marwah.
This indicates that if a woman enters ihram for Hajj or Umrah when she is menstruating, or her period comes before she does tawaaf, then she should not do tawaaf or saa’i until she becomes pure and does Ghusl.
But if she did tawaaf when she was pure and after she finished tawaaf her period came, then she should continue and do saa’i even if she is menstruating. She should cut her hair and end her ‘umrah, because tahaarah (purity) is not essential for saa’i between al-Safa and al-Marwah.
How does a Muslim woman wear Ihram?
Women wear ordinary loose-fitting clothes that cover all body except for the face and hands that are not eye-catching or adorned.
White colored clothes are not necessary as some would think only a preference.
When and where can women wear ihram for Umrah or Hajj?
A pilgrim woman can wear ihram at home or anywhere before passing miqat.
For Umrah: women should be wearing Ihram and making intention at anytime and anywhere before reaching miqat.
For Hajj: women should be wearing Ihram and making intention before or on the 8th of Thul Hijjah before reaching miqat.
What are the five points of Miqat /Mwaquit?
These are five points of entry to the sacred places of Makkah. A pilgrim woman should not cross any of these miqat points without ihram; intending Umrah or Hajj and wearing ihram clothes; if one wants to do either or both.
These five points of miqat are:
1. Dhul-Hulaifah:
Dhul-Hulaifah is a place southwest of Madinah. It is the miqat for people coming from Madinah and beyond.
2. Batn al-‘Aqiq:
Batn al-‘Aqiq is a place 94 km to the northeast of Makkah. It is the miqat for people coming from Iraq and beyond.
3. Al-Juhfah:
Al-Juhfah is a place 187 km to the northwest of Makkah. This was the miqat for people coming from or passing through Syria al-Maghrib and Egypt. It was on the eastern coast of the Red Sea, but it has completely disappeared and Abiar Ali is used as this miqat now.
4. Qarn Al-Manazil:
Qarn Al-Manazil is 94 km to the east of Makkah. It is the miqat for people of Najd and the pilgrims who pass by it.
5. Yalamlam:
Yalamlam is 54 km to the south of Makkah. It is the miqat for those coming from Yemen and the pilgrims who pass by it.
What can’t a Muslim woman do during ihram?
In a state of ihram a Muslim woman should not do some things that would invalidate her ihram, these are:
- Using perfumes or any perfumed ptoducts
- Clipping nails, cutting or shaving any hair
- Hunting, participating in hunting or eating free game meat
- Having sex or whatever arouses desires or leads to it
- Cutting down trees or destroying plants
- Contracting marriage or consummating it
- Women cannot wear niqab (face hiding veil) or gloves
- Obscenity, promiscuity or sinful speech or behavior
Ending ihram for women after the end of Umrah or Hajj rituals
Ending ihram for a woman is by cutting some head-hair even if it is in plaits.
Ihram is the very first part necessary for a Muslim woman to lawfully perform the fifth pillar in Islam; pilgrimage; both Umrah and Hajj. Ihram is a state of devotion and purity both inside and out. It eliminates all differences between people for the sake of equality before their Lord during pilgrimage.
Care to share your Umrah or Hajj experience with us? Talk to us
For further details on some common question on the topic of ihram please check this link.
