Worship is an act of divine calling where a person of faith awaits for miracles to happen. It is a state of longing to get their hearts string attached with the ultimate mystical power- God. The sacred trip to Mecca for Umrah is nothing less than a reflection of this spirit. More than a million devotees travel to the holy city of Mecca to deepen their faith in God Almighty. Many pilgrims opt for economy or all-inclusive Umrah packages for a hassle-free flight. For the successful completion of the Umrah, it is necessary to perform all the rituals correctly. One such ritual that underlines the importance is to wear Ihram. This blog will discuss the significance of wearing Ihram and guide you about how you can wear it properly.

Why is Ihram Significant?

Ihram is important as it marks the first step towards performing Umrah. Whether Muslims are travelling via an economic package or a Special Ramadan Package  it is a must for everyone to wear it. The significance of Ihram extends far from wearing clothes. It is a matter of purifying the body and the mind from all worldly desires. Ihram breaks the barriers of race and other social judgments. With the same color, Muslims from all walks of life reach the point of equality in front of God. And no one holds any kind of superiority over the other in terms of wealth or any other social standing.

Where to Wear Ihram?

Every devotee must wear the garment before arriving at the point of Miqat. It is a boundary where pilgrims should have worn the Ihram before passing it. Without the Ihram, Muslims are forbidden to cross Miqat if they wish to go for Umrah. In case, anyone crosses this zone without wearing the desired garments, then he must sacrifice an animal as a form of penalty. There are different Miqat points within Mecca and Medina. However, it is vital to understand the ruling about when to wear the Ihram.

• For Non-Islamic Flights

Non-Islamic flights like British Airways don’t have any praying area or any space to change Ihram. Muslims coming from the UK must wear the Ihram from their home airport before boarding the flight. It is advised if the flight has a direct travel route. But, if it’s a connecting flight, then pilgrims are supposed to change into Ihram at the layover point.

• For Islamic Airlines

Muslims travelling via Saudi Airlines can put on the Ihram on the flight as it does have the space for changing. But travellers may feel difficulty in changing onboard. Thus, pilgrims should enter the state of Ihram from their country’s airport. It is better to put on the dress half an hour prior the Miqat point.

Miqat Points for UK Muslims

Here are some of the Miqat points in the holy cities that Muslims should be aware of if they are travelling from the UK.

• Mosque Dhul Hulayfah (Medina)
• Mosque Aisha (Mecca)
• Al Juhfah- situated 182 km away from Mecca.
• Qarn al-Manzil- is located 80 kilometres to the east of Mecca city.
• Dhat Iraq- resides 90 km to the northeast of the holy city.

How to Wear Ihram Properly?

Ihram relates to a specific dress that is worn to perform the pilgrimage. For men, it consists of two plain white unstitched sheets of cloth. On the other hand, women must wear their regular long dresses such as abaya. Female pilgrims should choose clothing that will not invite male gaze. They can go for either in black or white colour.
Men’s Ihram consists of two towel-like clothing. The upper sheet is called Rida while the other is named as Izar. Male pilgrims are not allowed to wear any undergarments in Ihram. Hence, it is best to opt for long thick sheets that will drape the entire body comfortably. The first step before putting on the clothing is to trim your nails and any bodily hair. Next, the pilgrim must perform a Ghusl (purification bath) to get rid of any odour or impurities. If for any reason, a bath cannot be taken, then an ablution (wudu) must be done in place of it.  An intention should be made by heart before starting. After taking the bath, they can put on the prescribed Ihram.

Step by Step Guidance for Ihram (Men)

Here is a step-by-step guide for men on how to wear the Ihram before heading towards Umrah.

Step 1: The first step is to stand feet wide apart so that the sheets can be draped over the body correctly. Also, it is to ensure having a room to walk freely after wearing. 

Step 2: Next, start by covering the lower body. However, the choice depends on the pilgrim entirely. Leave one side long enough so that it can cover your left side easily. While the size of the Ihram varies based on style and pilgrim size, the average measurement for both sheets is 45 x 92 inches.

Step 3: Hold the Izar in one hand and let it rest on the back. Next, grab the clothing to wrap it around the chest from both sides. It will look as if the pilgrim is wearing a towel. Fold the ends back over themselves for more safety. Keep the lower cloth above the navel and make sure no body part is exposed. Pilgrims can use an Ihram belt or a money belt to hold the Ihram in its place. The belt should be fastened a few inches down the navel.

Step 4: After the Izar is worn, now the upper part of the Ihram must be worn. For this, hold the upper cloth with each corner in one hand. This will look as if you are about the wear a shawl. Simply drape your left side with the right corner.Make sure to cover your chest and upper arms at all times. Before circling the Kaaba, uncover your right shoulder fully. While it advised not to sew the Ihram clothing, men can make their wearable more stable by using clips or safety pins.

After wearing the Ihram, pilgrims must perform two rakat nafil and then make the intention of performing the Umrah.

“O Allah! I intend to make niyah for performing Umrah. so, make it easy for me and accept it from me.”

Ihram Rules for Women

Women have relaxation for Ihram garments. Unlike men, they don’t need to wear two sheets of cloth. Female pilgrims are supposed to wear long, sewn and loose-fitting dress. The garment should not be embellished with any patterns. It is important for them to over their head at all times with a scarf. No strand of hair should be visible from the hijab.

Morepver, it is vital for women to take up some medications to delay their menses cycle, if they wish to perform the Umrah and their “date” is falling near.

Forbidden Things in Ihram

During Ihram, certain measures should be taken into notice by Muslims. This especially holds for first-time travellers who are unaware of the rules of Ihram. 

• Use of any scented soap, shampoo, or perfume is forbidden when wearing Ihram. Muslims traveling via British Airways cannot even use wet wipes that are given to them by the crew after boarding the plane.
• It is prohibited to avoid engaging in any sexual activity with your spouse.
• Don’t indulge in any fight or quarrel that may result in using foul language.
• Don’t kill or harm any animal while in the state of Ihram.
• Men should not wear footwear that covers their feet and ankles. Even wearing socks is not recommended.
• Women can cover their faces only with a loose veil. The veil should not touch their face. They should keep their hands bare at all times in Ihram.
• You might have observed other pilgrims carry a book of dua to recite specific verses. This is an innovation (bidat) in Islam as Muslims can recite whatever they want during Umrah. There is no fixed ruling that only certain verses should be read.

Common Concerns of Pilgrims About Ihram

Pilgrims especially first-time one’s face confusion in the state of Ihram. Several questions arise in their minds regarding what is permissible and not while wearing the holy dress.
One typical question often asked is whether pilgrims can sleep wearing the Ihram or not. Yes, Muslims can sleep while wearing the Ihram and there is nothing wrong with this. 

Another issue that devotees face is whether they can comb their hair or not. While scholars differ in opinion on this. It is often advised not to comb hair since there is a chance of hair fall while doing it. However, if a pilgrim is sure that his hair not falling off, then he can comb his hair very gently. Likewise, he can run his finger through his beard while doing wudu. Again, the ruling is to do gently.It is typical to get sweaty from the tiring rituals of Umrah so does it mean pilgrims can change their Ihram? Certainly, they can change the Ihram during the rituals for any reason and wear a new one.