What Is Ihram in Islam? – 2023 Guide

What Is Ihram in Islam?

Ihram is the very first part necessary to lawfully perform the fifth pillar of Islam; Minor and Major pilgrimage; both Umrah and Hajj.  It eliminates all differences between people for the sake of equality before God during the pilgrimage.

Ihram is one of three things:

1. The two pieces of cloth men wear during Umrah or hajj
2. The first act commencing Umrah and hajj
3. The state of total devotion during Umrah and hajj

What is the state of Ihram?

The state of Ihram is the first step in performing Umrah and Hajj.  A Muslim puts on Ihram (two cloth pieces for men and clean loose of all covering clothes for women) and makes the intention of Ihram for Umrah or Hajj. By doing this, the pilgrim automatically enters the state of Ihram.   

Read also: Ihram for Women – Ihram For Females 2023 Guide

What to do before Ihram?

Once a Muslim makes his/her intention to perform Umrah or Hajj, pays back his debts, repents sincerely from all sins and reconciles differences with people to the best of his abilities and actually starts his journey 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 and dressing head, mustache and beard hair.

How do I wear Ihram?

Men wear two pieces of cloth one on shoulders and the other on waist which may be fixed with a belt or a pin.  It should be non-stitched to fit the body in any way.

Women wear ordinary loose-fitting clothes that cover the whole body except for the face and hands.  

White colored clothes are not necessary as some would think.

Ihram for Umrah & Ihram for Hajj

Both Ihram for Umrah & Ihram for Hajj are the same except for the intention.  A Muslim should make his 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.

Du’aa for Ihram intending pilgrimage 

A Muslim may intend Umrah, Hajj or both Umrah and hajj in case of Qiran. 

If one intends Umrah he says: “Labbayka Allahuma `Umrah” (O Allah, I answer Your call by performing `Umrah)

If one intends Hajj he says on the eighth of Dhul-Hijjah: “Labbayka Allahuma Hajj” (O Allah, I answer Your call by performing Hajj)

If a Muslim intends Qiran of both `Umrah and Hajj he says: “Labbayka Allahuma `Umratan wa Hajj” (O Allah, I answer Your call by performing `Umrah and Hajj).

Salaht al-Ihram

Salat al-ihram is a recommended set of two Rak’at of Ihram done before or at Miqat (five points of entry to the sacred places of Makkah).  It is recommended by the Messenger PBUH to read al-Kaffirun in the first Rak’ah and al-Ikhlas in the second one. 

When can one wear Ihram for Umrah or Hajj?

Wearing Ihram and making intention should be anytime and anywhere before reaching miqat for Umrah.

Wearing Ihram and making intention should be before or on the 8^th of Thul Hijjah before reaching miqat for Hajj.

What are the five points of Miqat /Mwaquit?

These are five points of entry to the sacred places of Makkah one should not cross without Ihram; intending Umrah or Hajj; 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: 

54 km to the south of Makkah. It is the miqat for those coming from Yemen and the pilgrims who pass by it.

Where can you wear Ihram?

One can wear Ihram at home or anywhere before passing miqat.  One should not cross miqat without Ihram and intending Umrah or Hajj; if one wants to do either or both.

Don’ts during Ihram; what can’t a Muslim do during Ihram? 

In a state of Ihram a Muslim should not do some things that would invalidate his Ihram. They are:

1. Using perfumes
2. Clipping nails, cutting or shaving any hair
3. Hunting, participating in hunting or eating free game meat 
4. Having sex or whatever arouses desires or leads to it 
5. Cutting down trees or spoiling plants 
6. Contracting marriage or consummating it
7. Women cannot wear niqab or gloves
8. Men cannot wear head covers or clothes sown to fit their bodies
9. Obscenity, promiscuity or sinful speech or behavior

Ending Ihram after the end of Umrah or Hajj rituals

Ending Ihram is by cutting some head-hair for men and women or completely shaving head-hair for men which is a confirmed Sunnah as in the hajj rituals.

Here are some commonly asked questions about Ihram:

If you need more info or have any questions please contact us on our live chat service. 

Question	Answer
Can I wear Ihram at Jeddah airport?	No, Jeddah is past miqat so one needs to be wearing Ihram and make intention before passing the miqat by any means of transportation.
Can I wear Ihram in Madinah hotel?	Yes, travelling from Madinah to Makkah a Muslim should wear his /her Ihram in hotel or at miqat in between.
Can I wear Ihram from Masjid Ayesha?	Yes, it is a place where a pilgrim can wear his Umrah attire and can do his intention.
Can I enter Makkah without Ihram?	No, if one intends Umrah or Hajj upon entering Makkah a Muslim needs to be in Ihram before passing any miqat point.
Can I wear underwear under my Ihram?	No, men cannot wear ordinary underwear because it is sawn to fit body.  There is a special sort of lose underwear used by men during Ihram.
Can I sleep in Ihram?	Yes, sleeping doesn’t invalidate Ihram.
Can I brush my teeth in Ihram with toothpaste?	Yes, it’s ok to brush teeth and even better to use Miswak.
Can I wear a watch in Ihram?	Yes, it is acceptable to wear a watch during Ihram as it’s not included in prohibitions.
Can I change Ihram during Umrah?	Yes, a Muslim can change into clean Ihram clothes during Ihram as cleanliness is an obligation.
Can I take bath after wearing Ihram?	Yes, cleanliness is an obligation but one must be careful while bathing of falling of any hair, or using something scented with perfume as it would invalidate Ihram.  It is best to use unscented cleaning soap.
Can I wear a belt with Ihram?	Yes, it is okay to wear any sort of belt on.
Can I wear sunglasses in Ihram?	Yes, there is no prohibition on wearing sunglasses.
Can I wear makeup in Ihram?	No, it is not allowed for a Muslim woman to wear any kind of makeup or to beautify herself in front of non-Mahrams when she wears Ihram.
Can I hunt or kill animals, birds or insects?	Only if the animal bird or insect poses danger to one’s health or life, then you can. Otherwise it’s prohibited.
Can I fish and eat what I catch?	Yes, it is halal to fish and eat what I catch.