Assuming IHraam


(IHraam is the state entered into at the Meeqat in which certain acts and types of clothing are forbidden).

1. It is mustaHabb for anyone going for Hajj or 'Umrah to take a ghusl (bath) for iHraam - even if a woman is in her period or in after-birth confinement.

2. Then the men may wear whatever clothes he wishes that are not made in the shape of the body - and these clothes are called by the fuqahaa (religious scholars) "ghair al mukheet (unstitched)". So he wears a ridaa (upper garment) and izaar (lower garment) or whatever, and sandals or any footwear that does not cover the ankle-bone.

3. He does not wear a hat or an 'imaamah (turban) or anything like that which fits onto and covers the head - this referring only to men. As for the women - she does not remove anything of the clothes that are prescribed for her in the Shari'ah, except that she should not tie on the niqaab(8)(face-veil) or the burqa' or the lithaam (lower face cover, up to the eyes) or handkerchief and she should not wear gloves(9). And the Prophet said: "The muHrim should not wear the shirt, or the 'imaamah, or the hooded cloak, or trousers, or garment touched by wars (dyes with saffron) or saffron; or leather socks - unless he cannot find sandals) then in that case he may wear leather socks), (10)" and the Prophet said: "The woman muHrim should not affix a face veil and should not wear gloves (11). And it is permissible to for the women to cover her face - even if it touches her face according to the correct opinion - however, she should not tie it on, as Ibn Taymiyyah says.

4. He may put on the clothing of iHraam before the meeqat even in his own house as the Prophet and his Companions did. And this makes it easier for those making Hajj by aeroplane for whom it is not possible to put on iHraam at the meeqat - so it is permissible for them to embark on the plane in iHraam, but they do not make the intention of iHraam until very shortly before the meeqat - in order that they do not go past the meeqat without iHraam.

5. He may use body oil and perfume himself with any perfume he please which was has odour but not colour, however, women use that which has colour not but no odour - and all this to be before he makes intention of iHraam at the meeqat - after that is Haraam.



IHraam and Niyya (intention)

6. So when he comes t the meeqat it becomes waajib (obligatory) for him to assume iHraam - and the mere wish and intention to perform Hajj is not sufficient as that has been with him since leaving his own land - rather he must perform by word and action what will cause him to be muHrim. So when he recites `talbiyyah' intending to enter into iHraam then his iHraam is concluded - as agreed upon by the scholars.

7. And he does not say anything more than the talbiyyah such as their saying: "O Allah, I intend to make Hajj or `Umrah so make it easy for me and accept it from me..." as none of this is reported from the Prophet - just like speaking with the intention for wudoo and salaat and Fasting - all of this being from the newly invented matters and is well-known the Prophet said: "...for every newly invented matter is an innovation, and every innovation is a going astray and every going astray is in Hellfire." [Tirmidhee - saHeeh]



The Meeqaats

8. The meeqaats (places for assuming iHraam) are five: Dhul Hulaifah, Al-Juhfah, Qarn-ul manaazil, Yalamlam and Dhaatu `Irq. They are for those who live there and those who pass by them intending Hajj or 'Umrah. And he whose house is nearer than them to Makkah then he makes iHraam from his house, the people of Makkah making iHraam from Makkah.

DHUL HULAIFAH is the place for the people of Madinah and is a village six or seven miles away - and it is the furthest meeqaat from Makkah - being ten riding stations away - or less depending on the route, there being many routes from there to Makkah as Ibn Taimiyyah points out. And it is called ((waadi ul `Aqeeq,)) and its masjid is called ((Masjid-ush-shajarah)) (mosque of the Tree), and there is spring there called `the spring of `Ali' by the ignorant masses - believing that `Ali: killed a jinn there - and that is a lie.

And AL-JUHFAH is a village between Madinah and Makkah - about three travel stages away. It is the meeqat for the people of Madinah if they come by this route. Ibn Taimiyyah said: "It is the meeqaat for those who make Hajj from the direction of the west, like the people of Shaam (Greater Syria) and Egypt and the rest of the West. And it is today ruined and deserted, therefore the people now go into iHraam before it in the place called "Raabigh".

And Qarn UL MANAAZIL - which is also called "Qarn-uth-Tha'aalib" is near Makkah - being a day and night's journey away - and is the meeqaat for the people of Najd.

And YALAMLAM is a place two nights distant from Makkah, thirty miles away and is the meeqaat for the people of Yemen.

And DHAATU TRQ is a place out in the desert, marking the border between Najd and Tihaamah, being forty-two miles from Makkah. It is the meeqaat for the people of Iraq.