Hajj is an annual religious gathering of Muslims in the holy city of Makkah. Every year, millions of Muslim pilgrims arrive in the kingdom through Hajj Package Deals and gather for the obligatory rituals of hajj to be performed. Among the many other rites, assuming Ihram is necessary for a pilgrim in order to perform hajj. Otherwise, the pilgrimage is invalid.
The concept of ‘Ihram’ is declaring a lawful thing as Haram (unlawful) on oneself. After pronouncing Niyyah and Talbiyah, for a pilgrim, certain permissible things become prohibited in the state of Ihram. Thus, this combined state of Niyyah and Talbiyah is called Ihram. In addition, there’s a specific dress code which the pilgrims have to abide by for their Ihram requisites.
Here’s a brief description of the way to access Ihram for hajj.
Preparations before Ihram.
- Clip your fingernails and toenails.
- Trim unnecessary hair from the body.
- Get a haircut, have your beard and mustache shaped.
Purification.
A pilgrim must do ghusl before wearing the Ihram clothes. However, performing Wudhu is also permissible but it is only when Ghusl is not Wajib for a person. Despite, Ghusl is a sunnah and preferred act.
Wearing Ihram.
Men.
Men can only wear two simple white-colored sheets of cloth as their ihram. No other piece of clothing is permissible to be worn as Ihram. The sheet of white cloth around the waist is called ‘Izar’ and the one used to cover the upper body is called ‘Rida’.
Men cannot wear any sort of stitched garment. In addition, wearing socks or closed footwear (that covers the feet or ankles) remains prohibited.
Women.
Clothing of Women during Ihram isn’t limited to any specific dress i.e., they can wear their ordinary clothes as Ihram but it should remain modest. For this reason, most of the women pilgrims prefer wearing Abaya on top of their ordinary clothes.
Women are allowed to wear shoes but covering face (wearing veil) and hands (wearing gloves) is prohibited in the state of Ihram.
Offering Nafal Salah.
If it’s not an undesirable time, offer two Rakat of Nafal Salah-al-Ihram with head covered before making an intention for Hajj and Talbiyah. Remember that, it is forbidden to perform Salah with a covered head after entering the state of Ihram (for men). Women should keep their heads covered at all times.
Intention & Talbiyah.
After offering the Nafal Salah, the pilgrim should uncover head and while still sitting, make Niyyah for Hajj and Umrah (if you are performing Hajj-al-Tamattu).
Can you change Ihram’s clothes?
By taking your Ihram clothes off or by changing them, a person does not relinquish Ihram because it is permissible to change the Ihram clothing if it gets dirty.
These are the important things to consider to access Ihram for Hajj.
