the Ihram

The State of Ihram During the Hajj to Mecca By Emily Rompelman

- WHAT IS ‘IHRAM’?

- WHERE AND WHEN DOES IHRAM START?

- REASONS OF IHRAM

PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF IHRAM

HOW TO WEAR THE IHRAM

- PHYSICAL RESTRICTIONS OF IHRAM

- PHYSICAL EXCEPTIONS TO IHRAM

- SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF IHRAM

- VARIATIONS BY GENDER

- THE CESSATION OF IHRAM

HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS

PERSONAL ACCOUNTS

RESOURCES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WHAT IS ‘IHRAM’?

“ al-ihram”: means ‘prohibition’ or making unlawful

First prescribed ritual act of the hajj, marking the entrance

into spiritual purification, represented through physical and spiritual

change.

- At the specific ‘miquat’ or sacred point, men are to take off all stitched

clothing and put on two hirrawems, or white cloths. One on the lower

portion of the body from the waist down and the other is shoulder down,

covering only the left shoulder, leaving the right shoulder and arm open

for movement.

Because of technological advances, pilgrims dress in airplanes or other

modes of transportation.

Encyclopedia of Religion, p. 7158 Peters, F.E., p. 117, 114-115

WHERE AND WHEN DOES IHRAM START? Peters, F.E., p. 114-115 Encyclopedia of Religion, p. 7158

Begins with salat (daily prayers); trims nails, shaves all hair

(further cutting of nails and hair is prohibited)

Niyah : Prayer that declares a pilgrim’s intention of lesser

pilgrimage (circumambulate the Ka’ba)

Salat: formal prostrations in the direction of the Ka’ba, done

Twice before entering sacred territory. Then done at dawn,

noon, midday, sunset and dusk.

Du’at: asking God for supplication

Talbiyyah: said loudly when passing through markers and

Voiced frequently throughout the hajj. Translated to: “ Here

I am, O Lord! What is Thy command?” or “At Your Service O

Lord, at Your Service”

REASONS OF IHRAM

One’s ihram represents their answering God’s call

- The physical aspect represents the burial shroud; as one

enters ihram and performs the hajj, their soul is the only

thing in front of God and not their body.

Brotherhood: The uniform cloth represents how

all Muslims are brothers, which the hajj and umrah celebrate.

Peters, F.E., p. 115

PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF IHRAM

“ ‘ He [man] shall not wear shirt, nor turban, nor

Trousers, nor headgear, nor any dyed cloth; and if he

Cannot find footwear, then let him wear leather

Stockings, but cut off so they may be lower than the

ankles.’”

- Bukhari, The Sound 3.53

- Clothing- hirrawems : white cloths; a belt can be

used to hold up the lower cloth.

Footwear- Gimgameea : thin-soled shoes where

leather only covers the toes. It appears that flip-flop

Sandals are appropriate.

- One is to not wear any perfumes or scents.

Peters, F.E., p. 55-56, 115-116 Click picture to view an online store

HOW TO WEAR THE IHRAM

Wishah (normal way): The izar, or lower cloth,

is worn from waist down

and the rida, or upper cloth,

is worn to cover the shoulders.

Idtiba (done when entering Tawaf ul Qudom,

to perform the hajj): the rida is put over

the left shoulder, from back to front, with

the other end under his right arm and

put over the left shoulder.

Textile Research Center, Leiden Netherlands click picture for various applications of the ihram

PHYSICAL RESTRICTIONS OF IHRAM

Cutting or shaving any hair, until the sacrifice of animals is done. - Cutting the nails. - Men cannot wear any stitched clothing or head coverings

(hat/turban, etc).

Wearing shoes or socks above the ankle. - Covering the face. - Hunting animals: Some tell that a pilgrim, when in ihram,

cannot even kill a flea. If the bug is sucking their blood, one

may move it to another spot on their body, but cannot kill it.. - Fornication.

Peters, F.E., p. 117 http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/december02_index.php

PHYSICAL EXCEPTIONS TO IHRAM

Only in cases of extreme heat can one put on their original

clothes. If this occurs regular clothing can be put on.

When the pilgrim reaches Mecca, they have to put on the

Ihram shroud, sacrifice a sheep and then give it to the poor.

Peters, F.E., p. 116-117

SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF IHRAM

- Because one is in front of God, tempers, desires and

language have to be censored.

Forbidden aspects vary by school : for example the Shafi’ite

school does not allow pilgrims to look in a mirror.

Brotherhood: as all pilgrims are dressed alike,

socio-economic and backgrounds are to disappear.

Peters, F.E., p. 115-117, 119

VARIATIONS BY GENDER http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/december02_index.php

Physical Differences: Women are allowed to wear

dresses, traditionally white, but can now

wear various colors. A woman cannot cover

their face but cover their hair with

scarves. Women can also wear stitched

clothing.

Spiritual Differences: Women

follow the additional spiritual guidelines as

male pilgrims. For example, women

cannot sell wild animals, break an

egg of a wild bird, etc…

VARIATIONS BY GENDER, cont…

When menstruating: A woman must perform the obligatory

bath (ghusi) before entering ihram and before saying her

intentions (niyat). Women can perform everything, but are

required to bathe before circumambulating the Ka’ba.

Women need to perform

the hajj with a mahram (someone

who the woman cannot marry). If

a woman feels as if she will tempt

men, she may use an umbrella to

shield her face.

http://www.salaam.co.uk/themeofthemonth/december02_index.php

THE CESSATION OF IHRAM

- Only once all rituals have been performed can one

rightfully discard their ihram shroud.

The ritual sacrificing of the sheep occurs and then

pilgrims can put on their original clothing or even

new clothes. It is at this time

that the celebration begins

and the pilgrims

congratulate each other

on their completing the

hajj.

Festival at the end of the hajj Peters, F.E., p. 254

HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS

Ibn Battuta : At the mosque of Dhu Hulayfa (5 mi. from

Medina), the Prophet assumed the pilgrim garb and

entered the ihram state. He said a prayer and made two

bowings, making his intentions for the Greater Pilgrimage

known.

Burton’s : Miquat was al-Zariba. When entering ihram, he bathed, faced

Mecca and said: “I vow this ihram of the Hajj and the Umrah to Allah

Almighty”. They he bowed twice and prayed: “O Allah! Verily I purpose

the Hajj and the Umrah, then enable me to accomplish the two, and

accept them both of me and make both blessed to me.” He then says

the talbiyya.

Peters, F.E., p. 104, 117-118

http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiwZB6-L1fE PERSONAL ACCOUNTS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyLqu-utGPU http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP5dWtHw- -I Various personal accounts of the hajj and ihram can be found online. Here are a few links to YouTube videos, giving additional information on ihram.

RESOURCES