ihram

Ihram is the sacred state and associated garments that Muslims assume when performing Hajj or Umrah, signaling purification, equality, and readiness for pilgrimage. It marks a detachment from ordinary life and imposes a set of restrictions on behavior during the pilgrimage.

The state begins with the intention to perform the pilgrimage (niyyah) and the recitation of the talbiyah. It is typically entered at designated miqat points before crossing into the sacred precincts of Mecca. The transition into ihram thus establishes the spiritual framework for the rites that follow.

Garments and appearance differ by gender. Men wear two white, unstitched seamless garments: an izar (lower) and a rida (upper). Women wear simple, modest clothing that covers the body. In both cases, the use of perfume or scented products is avoided, and the attire is chosen to reflect modesty and equality.

While in ihram, certain acts are forbidden: cutting hair or nails, applying perfume, hunting, and engaging in sexual relations or marriage. Men are particularly restricted from sewing sewn garments, and both men and women refrain from adornment and vanity. The state emphasizes humility, abstinence from personal pleasures, and focus on spiritual duties.

Pilgrims perform the rites of Hajj or Umrah while in ihram, including tawaf around the Kaaba and sa’i between Safa and Marwah. Those undertaking Hajj also perform the standing at Arafat, followed by the rituals at Muzdalifah and Mina, in accordance with the pilgrimage’s sequence and timing.