Wednesday, July 29, 2026

What Is Allowed During Iḥrām? A Complete Guide for Hajj and ‘Umrah

Permissible Acts In Iḥrām

1.      Using Miswāk

2.      Wearing a ring ¹

3.      To apply odourless kohl into eyes. However, it is Makrūh Tanzīhī for the Muḥrim to use kohl unnecessarily. (If the Muḥrim applied fragrant kohl into the eyes once or twice, he would have to give a Ṣadaqah. If he applied it three times or more, he would have to give a Dam.)

4.      To bathe without removing dirt from the body.

5.      Washing clothes (but it is Ḥarām to do so with the intention of killing lice).

6.      Scratching at the body or the head such that hair does not fall out.

¹ Once a companion, wearing a brass ring, came to the court of the Beloved Prophet . He said, 'Why is the smell of idol coming from you!' Hearing this, the companion removed that brass-ring and threw it away. He then came again with an iron ring in his finger. Seeing this, the Noble Prophet said, 'Why are you wearing ornaments of the Hell-dwellers!' The companion threw that iron ring away and asked, 'Yā Rasūlallāh , what sort of ring should I get made?' The Holy Prophet replied, 'Have a silver ring made and do not let it weigh up to one Mišqāl'

(Abū Dāwūd, vol. 4, pp. 122, Ḥadīš 4223)

In other words, its weight must be less than 4.5 Māshah.

Islamic brothers are allowed to wear only silver ring which weighs less than 4.5 Māshah (i.e., 4 grams and 374mg). There must be only one gem in the ring; they shouldn't wear the ring without a gem either; there is no limit for the weight of the gem. A stoneless ring of silver or any other metal (even if it was made in Madīna-tul-Munawwarah) cannot be worn. Similarly, a ring made of any other metal (e.g. gold, copper, brass, steel, etc.) except that of silver with weight limitation described above cannot also be worn. For men to wear a chain made of gold, silver or any metal around the neck is a sin. Islamic sisters may wear rings and chains made of gold and silver. There is no limitation of weight or gem for them.

(For detailed information regarding the rulings of ring, study from page 408 to 412 of the book 'Faīzān-e-Sunnat', volume-2, chapter 'Naykī kī Dawat' part-1)

7.      To use an umbrella or to sit under shade.

8.      To tuck the ends of the upper shawl in Tahband.

9.      To extract teeth.

10.  To detach a broken nail.

11.  To rupture a pimple.

12.  To remove hair from the eye.

13.  To perform circumcision.

14.  To have cupping (provided no hair is removed).

15.  To kill pest and harmful creatures such as the rat, the lizard, the snake, the scorpion, the mosquito, the fly etc. To kill them in Ḥaram is also allowed.

16.  To wrap a bandage around any part of the body except for the head and the face ¹.

17.  To place a pillow under one's head or cheek.

18.  To cover ears with a cloth.

19.  To place one's own hand or someone else's hand onto the nose or the head. (Cloth or handkerchief cannot be placed.)

20.  To cover the chin below the beard with a cloth.

21.  For a Muḥrim to place a sack of cereals on the head is permissible but it is Ḥarām for him to place a bundle of clothes onto his head. However, a Muḥrimah is allowed to place both the things onto her head.

¹ Although a Muḥrim can wrap a bandage around the head or the face in case of compulsion he will have to pay expiation for it. See its ruling on page 119.

22.  To eat the food in which clove, cinnamon, etc. have been cooked. It does not matter even if fragrance is still emanating from it. Similarly, it is permissible to eat the food or drink the beverage in which uncooked fragrance has been added and the fragrance does not emanate from it.

23.  To apply ghee or fat or bitter oil or the oil of almond, coconut or lettuce to the body or hair provided these things have no fragrance.

24.  It is permissible to wear such shoes that do not hide the instep (i.e. the raised middle part of the foot). [Hence the Muḥrim is advised to wear flip-flops, i.e. an open sandal with a thong between the big and the second toe.]

25.  To wear a Ta'wīż around the neck, wrapped in an unsewn piece of cloth.

26.  To slaughter domesticated animals such as the camel, the goat, the hen, the cow etc. It is also allowed to sell, purchase, cut and eat their meat.

(Bahār-e-Sharī'at, vol. 1, pp. 1081-1082)

Difference In Iḥrām Of Man And Woman

The abovementioned rulings of Iḥrām apply equally to men and women both. However, there are some other permissible acts for women. These days, sewn scarves are sold in markets in the name of Iḥrām. Due to lack of knowledge, Islamic sisters consider those scarves to be a part of their Iḥrām, which is wrong. They should wear sewn cloths as usual. However, if they wear such scarves without deeming them necessary by Shar'ī, there is no harm in it.

1.      To conceal the head. It is Farḍ (for a woman) to conceal the head during Ṣalāh as well as in the presence of non-Maḥram males (including her maternal and paternal cousins, especially her sister's husband).

It is Ḥarām for a woman to appear before non-Maḥram males whilst her head is not concealed or whilst she is wearing such a thin shawl that the blackness of her hair is visible. For a woman to come before non-Maḥram males with her head uncovered is Ḥarām and it is more strictly Ḥarām in the state of Iḥrām.

2.      Since Muḥrimah is allowed to conceal her head, she may also carry bundle of clothes onto her head.

3.      To tie a sewn Ta'wīż on the arm or the neck.

4.      To get underneath the cover of the Holy Ka'bah such that it remains on her head without coming into contact with her face as it is Ḥarām even for a woman to cover her face with a piece of cloth. (These days, people apply a lot of fragrance to the cover of the Holy Ka'bah, therefore, women should also be careful in the state of Iḥrām.)

5.      To wear gloves, socks and sewn clothes.

6.      Since it is Ḥarām for the Muḥrimah to cover her face with a veil in the state of Iḥrām such that it touches her face, she should keep some cardboard or handheld fan near her face (without it touching the face) for veiling from non-Maḥram males. (Bahār-e-Sharī'at, vol. 1, pp. 1083)

7.      Islamic sisters can wear such caps that have veils attached to the brims, making sure that the veil does not touch the face. However, there is the risk of the veil coming into contact with the face when strong wind is blowing. Moreover, there is also the chance that they might wipe sweat from the face with the same veil. Therefore, they must take great care.

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