The Ihram

The Mawaqit

1. The mawaqit which it is not permissible for a person to pass except in the state of ihram are:

• for the people of Madinah : Dhu’l-Hulayfah,

• for the people of `Iraq : Dhatu-`Irq,

• for the people of the Levant (al-Sham) : al-Juhfah,

• for the people of Najd : Qarn al-Manazil,

• for the people of Yemen : Yalamlam

2. If one entered ihram before these mawaqit, it is valid.

3. The miqat of one, whose dwelling-place is after the mawaqit, is al Hill.

4. The miqat of one who is in Makkah is the Haram for hajj and al-Hill for `umrah.

5. The Months of Hajj are: Shawwal, Dhu’-Qa`dah, and the [first] ten of Dhu’l-Hijjah. But, if one entered ihram for hajj before this, it is valid, and it counts as hajj [except that he must wait until the time of hajj to perform the rites].

Entering Ihram

When one desires to enter ihram, he:

1. Performs ghusl or wudu’, but ghusl is better

2. Wears two new or washed cloths: an izar (waist-wrapper) and a rida’ (upper garment).

3. Applies perfume if he has some

4. He prays two rak`ah

5. Says, Allahumma inni uridu’l-hajja fa-yassirhu li wa-taqabbalhu minni.

6. Pronounces talbiyah after his salah.

If he is performing hajj alone (ifrad), he intends hajj with his talbiyah. The talbiyah is that one say: ‘Labbayk-allahumma labbayk. Labbayk la sharika laka labbayk. Innal-hamda wan-ni`mata laka wal-mulk. la sharika lak.’

It is not appropriate to leave out any of these words, but if one added something] after them it is permissible.

Forbidden Deeds during Ihram

When one has pronounced talbiyah, he has entered ihram, and so he should keep away from that which Allah has forbidden:

1. Rafath (sexual intercourse, or sexual talk),

2. Fusuq (sins) and

3. Jidal (argument).

4. He should not kill game, nor point it out, nor direct to it.

5. He should not wear a shirt, nor pants, nor a turban, nor a cap, nor a gown. Nor [should he wear] khuffs unless he cannot find shoes, in which case he should cut them below the tarsus.

6. He should not cover his head, nor his face.

7. He should not apply perfume. He should not wash his hair or beard with shampoo.

8. He should not shave his head, nor his body hair, nor cut [anything from] his beard, nor [cut] his nails.

9. He should not wear a garment tied with wires, saffron or safflower, unless it has been washed and does not exude fragrance.

Permissible Deeds during Ihram

There is no harm in:

1. Performing ghusl

2. Entering a bath-house

3. Taking shade under a house, or a canopy

4. Tying a himyan (belt to carry money) around his waist.

Recommended during Ihram

One should recite talbiyah abundantly, after salah, and whenever one mounts an elevated place, or descends into a valley, or meets riders, and in the last part of the night.