The concept of Ihram is to declare a lawful thing as Haram i.e., unlawful on oneself; it’s necessary to assume Ihram for Muslim pilgrims who are travelling for the rituals of Hajj or Umrah through the cheapest hajj packages. Otherwise, performing the obligatory or minor pilgrimage without having entered the state of Ihram would make the Ibadah invalid. Despite this Ihram is also referred to as the specific clothing worn by men and women for the holy rituals.
Significance of Ihram.
After pronouncing the Niyyah and Talbiyah, certain permissible things become prohibited for a pilgrim in Ihram. For instance, wearing stitched garments (for men only); use of perfume or France of any sort, and hair cutting or trimming of nails. Therefore, the combined state of Niyyah and Talbiyah is known as ‘Ihram’.
Ihram clothing for men.
For men, Ihram consists of two simple white-coloured sheets of cloth. The one used for covering the lower half of the body i.e., from the navel to below the knees is known as ‘Izar’. On the other hand, the one used for covering the upper body; draped over the shoulders is known as ‘Rida’.
Men cannot wear any piece of stitched clothing for their ihram and their ihram is only limited to these two sheets.
Ihram clothing for women.
For women, there is no specific Ihram clothing to abide by i.e., they can wear their ordinary (stitched) clothes as Ihram. However, they should remain in accordance with the Islamic teachings i.e., modest and simple. Women should not cover their face or wear a niqab during the holy rituals however their head should remain covered at all times.
Where to assume Ihram?
Ihram must be assumed by a pilgrim before crossing the Miqat boundary. Miqat are the specified places at all corners of Makkah where pilgrims arriving for the holy rituals wear their Ihram. If a Miqat boundary is crossed without a pilgrim having entered Ihram, a penalty is due for him/her. Therefore, whether you are travelling with an Islamic airline or a non-Islamic airline, it’s advised to wear Ihram before your departure and recite Niyyah as the Miqat boundary approaches.
Preparations to wear Ihram.
Ihram should be worn only after the person has attained physical purity. Therefore prior to assuming Ihram, it’s advised to;
- Clip your nails.
- Get a haircut and moustache trim.
- Remove hair from under armpits and the navel.
- Perform Ghusl (recommended), however, Wudhu can also be made if Ghusl is not a Wajib for a person.
- After this, a person must wear neat and clean Ihram clothes and perform Salat-al-Ihram.
These are some of the fundamental rules of Ihram for pilgrims whether travelling for Hajj rituals or going for the performance of minor pilgrimage.
