Obligations When Performing Ihram for Hajj and Umrah

This page explains the obligations and prohibitions that must be observed by those in ihram for Hajj or Umrah.

Those in ihram must fulfill obligations such as performing prayer in congregation on time, and avoiding indecent speech, religious violations, and disputes.
General prohibitions during ihram include cutting hair or nails, wearing fragrance, hunting or bothering animals, cutting green plants in the sacred land, and proposing marriage or having marital relations.
Specifically, men are forbidden to wear attached head coverings and sewn clothing covering the body, while women are forbidden to wear gloves and face coverings.
Violations committed out of forgetfulness or ignorance are not subject to expiation, provided they are stopped immediately upon remembrance or learning, and certain items such as sandals, watches, and belts remain permissible to wear.

Obligations for Those in Ihram

The following things are obligatory for those in ihram for Hajj and Umrah:

1. To fulfill what Allah has obligated upon them, such as performing prayer at its appointed time in congregation.

2. To avoid what Allah has forbidden, which includes: rafath (indecent speech, intimate affection with wife), fusuq (violating religious commandments), jidal (disputation) and other sinful acts.

3. To avoid speech or actions that disturb and harm fellow Muslims.

4. To observe the prohibitions of ihram, which are: a. Pulling out hair or cutting nails. However, if hair or nails fall out unintentionally while in ihram, then no penalty is incurred. b. Using fragrance on the body or clothing, as well as on food and drink. However, if there is leftover fragrance from before ihram, it does not matter. c. Killing game animals or chasing them, or helping someone who hunts, while in ihram. d. Cutting trees or plucking green plants in the sacred land, as well as picking up found items, except if intending to announce it, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade all such actions. These prohibitions also apply to those not in ihram. e. Proposing marriage or conducting a marriage contract, whether for oneself or another, as well as having relations with one's wife or touching her with desire while in ihram. These prohibitions apply to both men and women.

Obligations When Performing Ihram for Hajj and Umrah

Specifically for men there are the following prohibitions: a. Wearing an attached head covering. However, using an umbrella or seeking shade under a vehicle roof, or carrying items above one's head, is permissible. b. Wearing a shirt and similar sewn clothing to cover the entire body or part of it, as well as robes, turbans, trousers and shoes, except if one cannot find a wrapper then wearing trousers is permissible, or if one cannot find sandals then wearing shoes is permissible.

While forwomen, it is forbidden during ihram to wear glovesand to cover their faces with veils or headscarves. However, if they face men who are not mahram, then they must cover their faces with headscarves or similar, just as when not in ihram.

If someone in ihram wears sewn clothing, covers their head, uses fragrance, pulls out hair, or cuts nails out of forgetfulness or ignorance of the ruling, then they are not subject to expiation. And they should immediately stop such actions when they remember or learn of the ruling.

Obligations When Performing Ihram for Hajj and Umrah

For those in ihram, it is permissible to wear sandals, rings, glasses, hearing aids (earphones), watches, regular belts, and belts with pockets for keeping money and documents.

It is permissible to change ihram clothes and wash them, as well as bathe and wash the head. If as a result of bathing and washing the head, hair falls out unintentionally, then no penalty is incurred, likewise if one is wounded.

Source:Guide to Hajj and Umrah, Office of Dakwah and Guidance,Al Sulay - Riyadh

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