Rules of Ihram

Ihram is simply the type of clothing a person has to wear/enter in order to perform Umrah as well as Hajj. The word Ihram is of Arabic Language which simply means “declare a lawful thing as Haram (unlawful) on oneself”. The person who is in the state of Ihram is known as “Muhrim”. 

Ihram finds great significance in Islamic Pilgrimage. Whether you are going for the lesser pilgrimage through umrah packages UK or any other country, one has to enter the state of Ihram for it. The same concept also applies to Hajj. Ihram not only unites all the Muslims but also portrays brotherhood, equality, and love that Islam gives them. Social Status, Nationalities, Power, Wealth, Fame, Culture and Traditions – there’s no difference between them. Everyone was born equal, will depart equal and is equal in front of Allah Almighty. There’s no superiority among people but on the basis of Taqwa. Therefore, the message of positivity is perceived by all the people living in the world. 

However, one must know the certain rules of Ihram, which are; 

Type of Clothing. 

For Men; Ihram consists of 2 simple white pieces of cloths. You can select the fabric and length according to your wish. The first piece of cloth that is used to cover the lower half of the body (from below the waist) is “Izaar”. While the second one use for covering the upper half of the body is “Rida”. 

Men necessarily have to wear Ihram when performing the rituals of Hajj and Umrah. While Tawaf, the right shoulder should remain uncovered. In the same way, while Sayee both shoulders must remain covered. No other piece of clothing, sewn garments or coloured outfits are allowed. 

For Women; Ihram is the usual clothing i.e. there isn’t any specific dress code for Ihram. Women can wear any sewn fabric, of any colour, of any sort. There aren’t any restrictions. Needless to say, the clothing must remain modest and simple. For the very reason, almost all the women prefer wearing Abaya on top of their clothes. 

While Tawaf, it is prohibited for women to cover their face or hands. 

Preparation. 

Before entering the state of Ihram, one must; 

• Clip its fingernails and toenails. 
• Trim his moustache to an appropriate size. 
• Remove unnecessary hair from the body especially from underarms and below the navel. 
• Perform Ghusl. 

After achieving the state of Purity, a person can enter the state of Ihram. It is usually advised to wear Ihram before departure. Hence you can either wear it at Airport and even from your home. Then, 

• Perform 2 Rakat Salah with heads covered. 
• Recite Niyyah for Umrah. 
• Recite Talbiyaah. 

Whether you are going for umrah through last 10 days Ramadan umrah packages or ordinary ones, abiding by these rules is necessary. In addition, there are also some prohibitions imposed during the state of Ihram that one must consider. Otherwise, a penalty is due and even your umrah/hajj can become invalid.

Top 5 Things to Do in Makkah

Lying 277 meters above sea level, the city of Makkah is situated in Saudia Arabia. It’s the most sacred city for 2 billion Muslims (24% of the world population) living across the globe. As the Holy Kaabah is located here. Muslims offer all their prayers in the direction of Holy Kaabah, regardless of where they reside in the world. The number of people visiting Makah is around 3 million per year. However, no non-Muslim can enter the City of Makkah. Most of the Muslims come here for performing Umrah and Hajj. 

The city houses exceptional chains of multinational restaurants; 5-star luxury hotels; clothing Brands of national and international designers, and whatnot. Here are the top 5 things to do in Makkah. 

1. Masjid-al-Haram. 

Masjid-al-Haram surrounds the Holy Kaabah. The Black Stone “Hajar-e-Aswad” is also here. The well of the purest water on earth “Zamzam” is just 20 meters from the Kaabah. The haram is most crowded during the time of Hajj (8th-12th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of Islamic Year). With millions of people present at the same place, at the same time performing all the rituals together through their cheap hajj packages. On the other hand, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims come every month for performing umrah all around the year. Maqam-e-Ibrahim is also here. 

There are a lot of places in Makkah for Ziyarath. Such as; 

• Jabal Al-Nour (where the holy Quran was first revealed to Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). 
• Jannat ul Moallah. 
• Jabal Al-Thawr. 
• Masjid-e-Jinn. 
• Jabl-e-Rahmat. 
• Masjid Nimra. 

And the list continues. 

2. Al Wahbah Crater. 

Hiking Al Wahbah Crater, situated northeast of the city of Mecca, is also an adventurous thing to do in the city. The crater measures one mile across with 850-foot cliff faces, stretching to the bottom of the pit; it is 250 meters deep and 2 kilometers in diameter. During the wet season, the bottom gets filled with water. On the other hand, it turns into a salt-pan in the summer as the sun evaporates the moisture from it. Camping remains permitted here but one should consider hiring a guide if they have to spend the night there. 

3. Abraj Al-Bait. 

Better known as the Fairmont Makkah Clock Royal Tower, Abraj Al-Bait is a five-star hotel situated close to the Masjid-al-Haram. As a matter of fact, it remains one of the world’s tallest buildings. Prominently consisting of 120 floors, 1542 guest rooms suites and Residences, 9 fancy restaurants and 56 elevators. The humongous hotel is an exceptional example of Arab architecture and hospitality. 

4. Masjid e Taneem. 

 At a distance of 10 minutes from Makkah, Masjid e Taneem houses state of the art, comfortable and private facilities for baths, ablution and changing. Since it is considered a Meeqat for pilgrims. 

5. Makkah Mall. 

The most visited, preferable and all-in-one shopping center here is the Makkah Mall. According to Locals, it is considered as a vibrant and unique upscale shopping, dining and entertainment environment for the whole family. It houses a diversity of local and international clothing and jewelry brands, supermarkets, restaurants – everything. 

If you are traveling to Makkah for hajj, umrah or on a tour, you must visit these places.