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Entering ihram involves: performing ghusl (ritual bath), men wearing two white unstitched garments (izar and rida) and women wearing normal modest clothing, approaching the designated miqat boundary, making the intention (niyyah) for Hajj or Umrah, and beginning the Talbiyah. Once the intention is made, ihram 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 miqat, perform ghusl — a full ritual bath with the intention of entering ihram. This is sunnah mu'akkadah (emphasized sunnah) for both men and women, including menstruating women. Use regular soap and shampoo. Men may apply perfume to their body (not ihram garments) before making the intention, based on the hadith of Aisha (RA) who said she perfumed the Prophet before his ihram.
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 recommended. Women wear their normal modest clothing in any color — their ihram is their regular dress. Women should not wear niqab (face veil) or gloves specifically during ihram, 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 miqat is the boundary from which ihram must be entered. The five designated miqat points are: Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali) for travelers from Madinah (450 km from Makkah), 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, ihram is typically entered before or during the flight when passing over the miqat.
Pray two rak'at of sunnah prayer at the miqat if it is not a disliked time for prayer. This is the prayer of ihram — it is recommended but not obligatory. Recite Surah al-Kafirun in the first rak'ah and Surah al-Ikhlas in the second (recommended, not required). If at an airport or on a plane when passing the miqat, the prayer may be omitted.
Make the intention in your heart for the specific type of pilgrimage: for Umrah say 'Labbayk Allahumma Umratan' (Here I am, O Allah, for Umrah), for Hajj say 'Labbayk Allahumma Hajjan' (Here I am for Hajj), for Hajj Tamattu: enter ihram for Umrah first, then later for Hajj. If you fear being prevented from completing the pilgrimage, 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 Talbiyah 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 Umrah, you begin tawaf; for Hajj, you stone Jamarat al-Aqaba on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah.
Once ihram 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 fidyah (penalty) which varies by the type and severity of the violation.