Ihram

Lesson Three

IHRAM

BEFORE WEARING IHRAM:

1. Before wearing the Ihram, it is recommended to: cut nails, cut hairs from the under armpits and private region, put on nice scent (this is forbidden after one comes into the state of Ihram), take a bath/make wudhu.

2. One must wear the Ihram before passing the Meeqat (boundary).

3. The Ihram is simply two pieces of cloth; one for wrapping around the waist so it covers the lower part of the body, the second is for the upper part of the body.

AFTER WEARING IHRAM:

1. Pray 2 rakahs sunnah prayer (surah Al-qafiruun in rakah one, and surah Ikhlaas in rakah two) – with ihram and headcover on.

2. Take off headcover and now make the Intention for ‘only Umrah’ (as one is doing Hajj Tamattu’) – so intention is made for ‘Umrah only’ for now, and then for ‘Hajj only’ on the 7/8th of Dhul –hijjah.

3. So the intention for Umrah is: “Allahumma innee ureedul umrata fayassirha lee watakabbalha minnee, wa’a innee alayha wabaarik lee feeha. Nawaytul umrata wa ahramtu biha lillahi ta’aa laa” (Oh Allah, I make the intention of Umrah, make it easy for me and accept It from me. Help me performing it and make it blessed for me. I have made intention of Umrah and put on Ihraam for the sake of Allah)

4. Pray the Talbiyah straight after making the intention.

Note: To come into the ‘state of Ihram’ – after wearing the two sheets, ‘one must make the Intention and read aloud the Talbiyah also’ – even after the two sheets are put on, until one does not make the ‘intention & Talbiyah’, they do not become a Muhrim (meaning coming into the state of Ihram) – hence the reason one can still wear the headcover, before the intention & talbiyah are recited.

TALBIYAH is to pray:

“LABBAIK, ALLAHUMMA LABBAIK, LABBAIK LA SHARIKA LAKA LABBAIK, INNAL HUMDA WANNE’MATA LAKA WAL MULK, LAA SHARIKA LAK”.

“O ALLAH, (HERE I AM) AT YOUR SERVICE! (HERE I AM) AT YOUR SERVICE – YOU HAVE NO PARTNER; (HERE I AM AT YOUR) SERVICE! INDEED, ALL PRAISE, BLESSINGS, AND THE DOMINION BELONG TO YOU; YOU HAVE NO PARTNER”.

At this point onwards, one must abstain from the things that are forbidden during Ihram.

FORBIDDEN ACTIVITIES IN IHRAM

1. Clipping own nails/ or someone else’s.

2. Cutting, shaving or to pull out own hair / or someone else’s.

3. Killing lice.

4. To use perfume or anything which contains fragrance on body or Ihram.

5. Hunting.

6. Arguing or using obscene language.

7. Sexual relations or speaking about it.

8. Covering the head for men (women must keep head covered).

9. Covering the face for (both men and women) – with direct skin contact. The women can cover their face by using a sun cap that has a veil draped over it, as with this, there is no skin contact of the veil.

10. The male must not wear sewn garments, even underwear, gloves or socks, stitched taweez. (Women can wear stitched garments etc.).

11. The male must also not cover the upper part of the foot (so v sandals should be worn). (Women can cover upper part of foot).

Note:

One can use tissue, handkerchief, cloth to wipe sweat or clean the face/nose, but one should dab the face, rather than cover the face and wipe it.
Stitched Identity wrist bands that are given to the people that will be doing Hajj, can be worn in the state of Ihram.