Ihram
What is ihram in Umrah?
اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ الْعُمْرَةَ
The intention for Umrah
Ihram is the sacred state you enter before the miqat. In the Hanafi school it is made of two things together: the intention for Umrah in the heart and the talbiyah on the tongue. The white sheets are only its outward sign.
The meaning of ihram
Ihram is the condition of Umrah, so without it there is no Umrah. It is the first of the two obligatory (fard) acts of Umrah, the other being tawaf. Once you are in ihram, certain things that are normally allowed become forbidden, which is why it is called a sacred state.
Wearing the ihram clothing does not by itself make you a muhrim. You are in ihram only once you have worn it, prayed the two rak'ahs of Salah al-Ihram, made the intention for Umrah and recited the talbiyah.
How to enter ihram
Clip your nails, remove the hair under the arms and below the navel, and trim the moustache, because none of these can be cut once you are in ihram.
Take a bath (ghusl) with the intention of ihram. It is a sunnah, and even a sister in her period keeps it, since its purpose is cleanliness.
Put on the ihram clothing, pray two rak'ahs, make the intention for Umrah and recite the talbiyah at least once. See how men wear ihram and what women wear.
When it must be done
Enter ihram before you pass the miqat. If you fly from the UK to Jeddah, you must be in ihram before the plane crosses it. Read where your miqat is for the exact steps.
More questions
Is wearing the ihram sheets enough to be in ihram?
No. The sheets alone do not make you a muhrim. You must also pray the two rak'ahs, make the intention for Umrah and recite the talbiyah.
Is ihram the same for men and women?
The state is the same, but the clothing differs. Brothers wear two unstitched sheets, while sisters wear their ordinary modest clothing with the face uncovered.
What happens if I break a rule of ihram?
A sacrifice (damm) or charity (sadaqah) may become due, depending on what was done. Ask a scholar about your own case.
Read the full guide
Perform your Umrah with confidence
Follow every rite in order, with counters and duas in Arabic, in our step by step Umrah guide. To study the Hanafi rulings behind it with qualified teachers, see our courses, or explore our apps. Ihya us Sunnah is sustained by its community, so please consider supporting our work.
This guide follows the Hanafi method and is based on Shaykh Mufti Wajid Iqbal's Umrah book, Essential Islam. For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar.