Question#1 What does “ihram clothing” mean?
Answer: Ihram clothing means to enter a state that can not be broken. In Islam, who enters the state of Ihram is “Muhrim.”It is compulsory to enter a form of “ihram” while performing Umrah and Hajj.
Entering the state of Ihram:
Before entering the state of Ihram, it is obligatory to cut your nails and trim your hair (underarms and public). These actions are Sunnah of our Holy Prophet (PBUH), but not mandatory, which applies to men and women.
The method of Ihram:
First, perform Wudhu, wear new clothes, apply perfumes, and perform two Rakat nafl(it’soptional, not compulsory). After this, recite this duas:
اللهم اني اريد الحج العمرة فيسره لي و تقبله مني
“Oh, Allah, I intend to perform Hajj/Umrah, so make it easy for me and accept it from me.”
Then perform tawaf and following talbiyaah:
Labbaik Allahumma labbaik; labbaik la sharika laka labbaik; Innal-hamda wan-ni’mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika laka.”
“I am present Oh Allah I am present, I am present (I testify that) there is no God besides you I am present, Indeed all praises and blessings are yours and the kingdom is yours, There is no God besides you.”
Ihram is the vital pillar of Hajj, and without this anyone can perform no Hajj and Umrah. Therefore, all Muslims should know the requirements of the Hajj and Umrah.
Question#2:
Which things are not allowed in the state of Ihram?
Answer:
- Hunting
- Sex activities.
- Kissing the woman.
- Touching the woman.
- Looking and play with women.
- Masturbation.
- Marriage ceremony
- Using perfume.
- Men are wearing sewn clothes.
- Use of kohl/Kajal(surma).
- Looking in a mirror.
- Men are wearing shoes or socks.
- Teasing others.
- Quarreling
- Killing the insects on other’s bodies.
- Using cosmetics.
- Applying oil on the body.
- Removing hairs from the body.
- Men covering head
- Women are covering the face.
- Men were shading themselves from the sun or rain.
- Coming out blood from the body.
- Cutting of nail
- Extraction of teeth
- Wearing of arms
Question#3:
Do I smoke when I am in Ihram?
Answer:
In-state of Ihram, anything that smells is strictly prohibited. Smoking also gives a smell, so it is prohibited in this state.
“Perfume is everything that has a pleasant scent to it, and it is considered by sensible people (u’qala) to be a form of perfume.” (al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, 1/240)
