Al-Ihraam (Clothing)
Ihraam is mandatory (waajib) clothing to be worn during Umrah. The requirements for men and women are different. Men must take off their regular clothes and put on the two unstitched pieces of clothes (Ezaar and Redaa). Additionally, men cannot wear shoes that cover the top of their feet. Women can wear any loose-fitting, decent dress which covers the entire body except face and hands.
During the state of Ihraam, the additional requirements have to be followed by both men and women. You cannot trim or shave hair, clip nails, use perfumes or colognes, kill or hunt animals, have sexual intercourse with your spouse, enter marriage proposals or contracts.
It is recommended that before ihraam, one takes a shower (performs ghusl) with the intention to purify your self and to be ready for Umrah. Only men can perfume (fragrance) his body (not his ihraam garments). However after you have entered a state of ihraam, men are not allowed to use any cologne/perfume or fragranced items (including soaps, deodorants, etc.) on their body or garments.
Women should not use perfumes (or fragrances) at all.
An-Niyyah (Intention)
This is the intention to make Umrah. It has to be made at the place of Miqaat before entering the jurisdiction of the Haram.
Upon making the intention (niyyah) for umrah, one should say:
“LABBAYAKA ALLAAHUMMA UMRAH”
Which means: “O Allah I answered your call to perform Umrah.”
It is recommended to repeat the well-known dhikr of ihraam, called Talbeyah, as frequently as possible from the time of ihraam (after making niyyah at Miqaat). This should be said loudly be the men, and softly by the women.
This Talbeyah is the following:
“LABBAYKA ALLAAHUMMA LABBAYK. LABBAYKA LAA SHAREEKA LAKA LABBAYK. INNALHAMDA WAN-N’IMATA LAKA WALMULK. LAA SHAREEKA LAK.””
which means: “Here I am at your service. O my Lord, Here I am. No partner you have. Here I am. Truly, the praise and the provisions are yours, and so is the dominion. No partner do you have.”
Al-Ihraam (Clothing)
- Putting the ends of the upper loose garment (redaa) under the right armpit, exposing the right shoulder (idtibaa). Once the seven rounds of tawaaf are completed, return the upper garment (redaa) to the previous position.
- Putting the ends of the upper loose garment (redaa) under the right armpit, exposing the right shoulder (idtibaa). Once the seven rounds of tawaaf are completed, return the upper garment (redaa) to the previous position.Walking quickly (ramal) during the first three rounds of the first Tawaaf around the Ka’bah. For the final four rounds of Tawaaf, walk normally.
It is not necessary to kiss the black stone. If one cannot easily do so, one is encouraged to touch it with their hand, and if they cannot do that, one can simply raise their hand towards it.
If salaah time comes before you finish your Tawaaf, simply line up for salaah. Upon finishing your salaah, immediately resume your Tawaaf until you are finished with your seven circles.
