ইহরাম

ইহরাম is both a physical state and a spiritual condition. The word derives from the Arabic root h-r-m, meaning 'to make sacred' or 'to prohibit.' When a হাজী enters ইহরাম, they consecrate themselves for worship, voluntarily accepting a set of restrictions that strip away worldly distractions and focus the mind entirely on Allah. The simplicity of ইহরাম clothing — two plain white sheets for men, modest regular clothing for women — erases distinctions of wealth, status, and culture. A king and a laborer become indistinguishable. This radical equality is not merely symbolic; it is a lived experience of আল-কুরআনic principle that the only distinction Allah recognizes is taqwa (God-consciousness).

The Miqat refers to the designated boundary points at which হাজীগণ must enter the state of ইহরাম before proceeding to মক্কা মুকাররমা. Five Miqat points were established by নবী করীম Muhammad (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম): Dhul Hulayfah (for those coming from মদীনা মুনাওয়ারা), al-Juhfah (from the direction of Syria/Egypt), Qarn al-Manazil (from Najd/eastern Arabia), Yalamlam (from Yemen), and Dhat Irq (from Iraq). Pilgrims flying into Jeddah typically enter ইহরাম on the aircraft as it approaches the nearest Miqat. Before reaching the Miqat, it is sunnah to perform গোসল (full ablution), apply perfume to the body (not the ইহরাম garments), and put on the ইহরাম clothing. At the Miqat, the হাজী makes the niyyah for either হজ্জ or উমরাহ and begins reciting the তালবিয়াহ.

Upon entering ইহরাম, specific actions become prohibited (haram): cutting or removing hair from any part of the body, clipping nails, using perfume or scented products, wearing sewn or fitted clothing (for men — women wear their normal modest clothing), covering the head (men) or covering the face (women, according to most scholars), hunting land animals, contracting marriage, and engaging in marital relations. These prohibitions serve a spiritual purpose: by restricting normal grooming, adornment, and physical pleasures, the হাজী enters a state of focused devotion where worldly comforts become secondary to worship. Violations of ইহরাম restrictions require specific compensations (fidyah), which vary by the type and severity of the violation.

If a হাজী violates an ইহরাম prohibition — either intentionally, forgetfully, or out of necessity — a fidyah (compensation) is required. For most violations (cutting hair, using perfume, wearing prohibited clothing), the fidyah is one of three options: fasting three days, feeding six poor people, or sacrificing a sheep. If a হাজী hunts a land animal, the compensation is the equivalent value of the animal killed. Marital relations during ইহরাম before the standing at Arafah invalidate the হজ্জ entirely, requiring the হজ্জ to be repeated the following year — though the current হজ্জ must still be completed. The scholars emphasize that accidental or forgetful violations are treated more leniently, and that the compensatory system demonstrates Islam's balance between upholding sacred rules and providing mercy for human weakness.