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Entering الإحرام involves: performing الغسل (ritual bath), men wearing two white unstitched garments (izar and rida) and women wearing normal modest clothing, approaching the designated الميقات boundary, making the intention (niyyah) for الحج or العمرة, and beginning the التلبية. Once the intention is made, الإحرام restrictions are binding: no cutting hair or nails, no perfume, no sexual relations, no hunting, men must not cover their heads, and women must not cover their faces (Hanbali view).
Before reaching the الميقات, perform الغسل — a full ritual bath with the intention of entering الإحرام. This is سنة mu'akkadah (emphasized سنة) for both men and women, including menstruating women. Use regular soap and shampoo. Men may apply perfume to their body (not الإحرام garments) before making the intention, based on the hadith of Aisha (RA) who said she perfumed النبي before his الإحرام.
Men wear two white unstitched garments: the izar (lower garment, wrapped around the waist) and the rida (upper garment, draped over the shoulders). Sandals or flip-flops that expose the ankles and the top of the feet are مستحب. Women wear their normal modest clothing in any color — their الإحرام is their regular dress. Women should not wear niqab (face veil) or gloves specifically during الإحرام, though they may drape cloth over their face when non-mahram men are near.
These are the most frequent errors pilgrims make during this stage of Hajj.
Scholarly references supporting this guidance from established Islamic sources.
The الميقات is the boundary from which الإحرام must be entered. The five designated الميقات points are: Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali) for travelers from المدينة (450 km from مكة), Al-Juhfah (Rabigh) for travelers from the north/west (180 km), Qarn al-Manazil (al-Sayl) for travelers from Najd/east (75 km), Yalamlam for travelers from Yemen/south (100 km), and Dhat Irq for travelers from Iraq/northeast (90 km). For air travelers, الإحرام is typically entered before or during the flight when passing over the الميقات.
Pray two ركعة of سنة الصلاة at the الميقات if it is not a مكروه time for الصلاة. This is the الصلاة of الإحرام — it is مستحب but not واجب. Recite Surah al-Kafirun in the first ركعة and Surah al-Ikhlas in the second (مستحب, not required). If at an airport or on a plane when passing the الميقات, the الصلاة may be omitted.
Make the intention in your heart for the specific type of الحج: for العمرة say 'Labbayk Allahumma Umratan' (Here I am, O Allah, for العمرة), for الحج say 'Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan' (Here I am for الحج), for الحج Tamattu: enter الإحرام for العمرة first, then later for الحج. If you fear being prevented from completing the الحج, add the conditional intention: 'If I am prevented by any obstacle, then my place of release is wherever You hold me.'
Immediately after making the intention, begin reciting the التلبية aloud (men) or quietly (women): 'Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, labbayk la sharika laka labbayk, innal hamda wan-ni'mata laka wal-mulk, la sharika lak.' Continue reciting it frequently throughout your journey until: for العمرة, you begin الطواف; for الحج, you stone الجمرات al-Aqaba on the 10th of ذو الحجة.
Once الإحرام is entered, the following are prohibited: cutting or removing hair from any part of the body, trimming nails, applying perfume or scented products, sexual relations or intimate contact, marriage proposals or contracts, hunting land animals, and for men specifically: covering the head with anything attached (hats, caps, helmets) and wearing fitted/stitched clothing. For women: wearing niqab (face veil with eye opening) and gloves. Violations require فدية (penalty) which varies by the type and severity of the violation.