Ihram Rules for Umrah are prepared for your Sacred Journey. You need to understand Ihram. It’s not only a physical outfit; it’s a spiritual condition that each pilgrim should attain prior to performing Hajj or Umrah. The ritual of Ihram and knowledge of the rules for both men and women, as well as being prepared for the physical and spiritual needs, can make the pilgrimage smooth and rewarding. Pilgrims sometimes take the word ‘Ihram’ to mean only the white clothes that are worn by pilgrims. Ihram is much more complex than the garments.

What Is Ihram?

Ihram is a sacred, spiritual state of purity and devotion that every Muslim must enter before performing Hajj or Umrah. It is a profound commitment to submission to Allah, where all worldly, social, and economic differences are set aside, and one stands on a basis of equality. This concept includes three key elements: a specific physical state of purity, distinct clothing, and a strict set of prohibitions.

Why Is Ihram Important in Umrah?

Ihram demonstrates equality, humility, endurance, and devotion towards Allah. Standing before Allah, pilgrims leave their financial resources, their nationality, and their way of life behind to let go of every line of work and role they perform in society. The start of the Umrah journey takes place when the pilgrim enters into ihram (called Miqat). It is a cautionary message to the worshipers that they should devote themselves wholeheartedly to God’s worship and avoid disputes and worldly affairs.

When Muslims wear ihram, they learn the following:

Before embarking on your journey for Umrah, you need to be fully acquainted with all the rules of ihram.

• Obedience to Allah
• Self-discipline
• Patience
• Humility
• Spiritual purification

What men wear for ihram is the izar and rida:

Men wear two things: izar (lower sheet wrapped around the waist) and rida (upper sheet draped over the shoulders). Both should be clean, white, and unstitched. No patterns. Umrah sandals​ can be worn, but must reveal the ankle and the top of the foot. No shoes, trainers, or socks will be allowed when in ihram.

The rules of Ihram that apply only to men:

• No stitching of any clothing. This means that no underwear, vests, or t-shirts should be worn under the sheets.
• No socks, hats, or head coverings (even a cap or towel over your head is not allowed).
• Closed shoes are not allowed, only open sandals.
• Fine: belts or pouches of money – not clothing.

Women are Not Allowed To Wear Ihram.

Women are exempt from the umrah rules​ of ihram. You don’t have to wear the two white sheets. However, there are still some essential rules to adhere to.

Full dress of women in the state of Ihram:

Ladies wear normal Islamic clothes that are loose, modest, and normal. Any colour of an abaya (long dress) is acceptable. Clothes should cover the entire upper and lower body, except for the face and hands. It is required to wear a hijab (headscarf). The important thing to remember: No special white clothes are required. Just be sure to wear clothes that are comfortable, clean, and opaque.

The Ihram restrictions imposed on women are:

• Avoid wearing a niqab (a face covering that extends to the face).
• No gloves (hands are not to be covered).
• Face is to be uncovered, but if you are around a non-mahram male, you can cover your face with a cloth (that doesn’t touch skin).
• Avoid perfumes, heavy make-up, and scented cosmetics.
• Select a breathable abaya and a practical hijab (sports hijab is good for comfort while performing Tawaf).

The 6 Steps for Proper Ihram:

1. Full grooming/trim nails and hair as necessary.
2. Do a full bath (ghusl) or ablution (wudu) if that cannot be done.
3. Put on your ihram clothing—for men, wrap the izar and rida; for women, dress in modest clothes.
4. Pray 2 Rak’ahs (units of prayer) (optional) of Surah Al-Kafirun and Surah Al-Ikhlas.
5. Your own niyyah (intention) with the Miqat: “Labbayka Allahumma Umrah. (Bukhari 1549)”
6. Start reciting the Talbiyah. Men say it loud, women say it softly. (Muslim 1184)

لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ

These are the rules of Ihram which apply to all people:

• No Perfume
• No Cologne
• No Scented lotions
• No Scented soaps
• No Fragranced deodorants
• No Cut hair
• No Sexual relations
• No Intimate physical contact
• No Shave hair
• No Trim hair
• No Cut fingernails
• No Cut toenails
• No hunting, killing, or helping to hunt land animals.
• No arguing, fighting, or using foul language.

If you break the rules of the Ihram? – Explanation of Fidyah:

But what if you do slip up and violate one of the rules of ihram? Don’t panic. Islam provides a remedy for most of the errors – it is called FIDYAH (compensation).

The Three Fidyah Options – Ihram Rules and Penalties:

If one commits any of the ihram rules (except for sexual relations, which has another ruling), one must do one of the following:

• Fast for three days
• Give 6 poor persons 1.5kg of staple food each (approx 6 persons)
• Sacrifice a goat

Common Ihram regulations that UK pilgrims should avoid:

Don’t make these 10 common mistakes as the UK pilgrims have made before!

1. Piling up over the Miqat without entering ihram.
2. Men wear under their clothes or socks under the blanket.
3. Using perfumes or soaps in the toilet.
4. Women in ihram wearing a niqab (face veil).
5. Not familiar with the rules of fidyah and panicking after a mistake.
6. To use perfume before putting on the ihram and then wearing it.
7. When sleeping, men will put a towel or blanket over their heads.
8. Women who think that they should wear only white, any colour is OK.
9. Forgetting to start reciting the Talbiyah after making niyyah.
10. Not starting Ihram until after the announcement of Miqat on the plane.

When is the time to end the State of Ihram?

If you are doing Umrah, then your Ihram is removed once you have performed Tawaf (circumambulation of the Kaaba), Sa’ee (walking between Safa and Marwah), and the shaving or trimming of your hair, Halq or Taqsir. Once you have donned ihram, it is not removed for umrah until you perform more rituals in Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. These are completed, and all the Ihram rules are removed. To get detailed information on the rituals of Umrah, please refer to our step-by-step Umrah guide.

Planning your Umrah trip from the UK?

From visa for Umrah to flights, transport from airport to hotel accommodation, and Umrah packages from the UK, Alfajar travle can assist you in your preparations, whether you are doing the pilgrimage for the first time or returning for another blessed pilgrimage. Call our team today and get professional advice and tailor-made travel assistance.

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