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Guide for Women

Short answer: A woman’s Ihram is her normal modest clothing, as long as no cloth touches her face. Women recite the Talbiyah quietly, don’t do raml in Tawaf or run between the green lights in Sa’i, and trim only a fingertip’s length of hair. A woman can enter Ihram during menses but cannot perform Tawaf until she is pure.

At a glance

  • Ihram: normal modest clothing; no particular colour is required
  • Face: no cloth should touch the face
  • Talbiyah: quietly
  • Tawaf and Sa’i: no raml and no running
  • Hair: trim a fingertip’s length
  • Menses: everything except Tawaf; Tawaf after purity

Step-by-step guide

Before travel

  1. Mahram: according to the Hanafi school, a woman travelling the shar’i travel distance for Hajj or Umrah must be accompanied by her husband or a mahram. Saudi laws and visa rules are a separate matter, so ask a reliable scholar about your own situation.
  2. Planning around menses: consider your expected dates when choosing travel dates. If you want medicine to delay your period, consult a doctor first.
  3. Clothing: take loose, comfortable, modest clothes and scarves.

Ihram and Umrah

  1. Take a bath, wear your normal modest clothing and keep your head covered.
  2. If you wear a niqab, use something like a cap brim so the cloth doesn’t touch your face.
  3. Make the intention and recite the Talbiyah quietly.
  4. In Tawaf, keep away from the men’s crowd. Raml and idtiba’ are not for women.
  5. In Sa’i, walk at a normal pace between the green lights.
  6. After Sa’i, trim a fingertip’s length from the end of your plait or hair. A mahram or another woman should do this.

During menses

  1. You can enter Ihram and recite the Talbiyah.
  2. You cannot perform Tawaf or pray, and you cannot enter the mosque.
  3. Wait until you are pure, then take a bath and perform Umrah.
  4. If you don’t expect to be pure before your return flight, contact a reliable scholar straight away.

Do

  • Pray in the women’s section.
  • At busy times, use the upper floors for Tawaf.
  • Keep your phone, hotel card and group leader’s number with you at all times.

Don’t

  • Don’t use perfume, scented cream or make-up while in Ihram.
  • Don’t try to kiss the Black Stone in the men’s crowd; gesturing from a distance is enough.
  • Don’t perform Tawaf during menses.

Common mistakes

  • Thinking white clothing is required for Ihram.
  • Letting the niqab cloth cling to the face.
  • Trimming too little hair, or going to a male barber.

Frequently asked questions

Can women wear socks and gloves in Ihram? Socks are fine. Ask a reliable scholar about gloves.

What if my period starts during Umrah? Stop the remaining part and wait until you are pure. Ask a reliable scholar for the details.

Can I do Tawaf with children? Yes, but avoid peak times and hold the child firmly.