1. Women
  2. Hajj rulings

Restrictions for a Person in the State of Ihraam - II

Restrictions for a Person in the State of Ihraam - II

Clipping Nails, Shaving, Cutting or Removing hair:

This is restricted regardless of the means with which they are done, and regarding the hair, then the restriction applies whether it is from the head or any other part of the body.

Allah Says (what means): {…And do not shave your heads until the Hady (offering) reaches the place of sacrifice…} [Quran 2:196]

In such a case, one must pay atonement, which is fasting three days, or feeding six poor people with a Mudd (750 gm) of fine wheat each, or slaughtering a sheep.

There is consensus among the scholars that a person in the state of Ihraam is forbidden to clip his fingernails without any genuine excuse. However, if a nail is broken, one may remove it without incurring any penalty. Removing the hair is permitted, if it becomes harmful.

Using Perfume on the Body or Clothes:

This applies whether done by a man or a woman. Ibn 'Umar  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  them reported that 'Umar  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him smelled the pleasant smell of perfume coming from Mu'aawiyah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him while the latter was in the state of Ihraam. 'Umar  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him commanded him: “Get back, and wash it off. I have heard the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) saying: “A pilgrim must be unkempt and without any perfume.” [Al-Bazzaar]

The one who applies perfume during Ihraam has to make a compensation, which is fasting three days, or feeding six poor people with a Mudd of fine wheat each, or slaughtering a sheep.

It is permissible, however, to smell the things that are not planted for their scent such as apples and quince.

Wearing Clothes Dyed with Scented Material:

There is agreement among scholars that wearing a Hajj garb dyed with a scented material is not allowed unless it is washed and its smell is removed. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “Do not wear (while in the state of Ihraam) any clothes dyed with wares or saffron without washing them.” [Ibn 'Abdul-Barr and At-Tahaawi]

The one who wears clothes dyed with scented material while being in the state of Ihraam has to compensate by fasting three days, or feeding six poor people with a Mudd (750 grams) of fine wheat each, or slaughtering a sheep.

Engaging in Hunting:

A person in the state of Ihraam may fish or eat sea game. It is forbidden, however, for a person in the state of Ihraam to hunt on land, by killing or by slaughtering. It is also forbidden for him to point it out, or indicate its place if it is invisible, or scare it off. It is also forbidden for him to spoil eggs of animals living on land. Buying, selling them, or milking these animals is also forbidden while in the state of Ihraam. Allah Says (what means): {Lawful to you is (the pursuit) of water-game and its use for food - for the benefit of yourselves and those who travel, but forbidden is (the pursuit) of land game - as long as you are in a state of Ihraam (for Hajj or 'Umrah). And fear Allah to Whom you will be gathered back.} [Quran 5:96]

In the case of killing a game animal, the penalty is to slaughter a domestic livestock animal (i.e. a camel, cows or sheep) equivalent to it.

Eating Game-Meat:

It is forbidden for a person in the state of Ihraam to partake of any land game prepared for his sake, at his suggestion or with his help. Abu Qataadah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him reported that Allah' s Messenger  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) went for Hajj and they also went with him. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) dispatched a group, including Abu Qataadah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him and told them: "Follow the seashore until we meet again." All of them except Abu Qataadah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him were in the state of Ihraam. On the way, they saw a herd of zebras. Abu Qataadah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him attacked them and killed a female zebra. They all ate of its meat but said: "Is it permissible for us to partake of this land game in the state of Ihraam?" Then they carried the rest of the meat to the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) and told him the whole story. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said to them: 'Did any one of you ask Abu Qataadah to attack the herd, or point it out to him?" They said: "No." He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: "Then, you may eat what is left of the quarry.” [Al- Bukhari and Muslim]

A person in the state of Ihraam may eat the meat of a game, which is neither killed by him, nor for him, nor pointed out by him to someone else, and in the hunting of which he did not help others.

The eating of a land game hunted by a person in the state of Ihraam or for another person in the state of Ihraam is unlawful for him, whether it is done with or without his permission.

I this case, the person must repent and seek Allah’s forgiveness. There’s nothing reported from Sunnah that has made any expiation for them other than repentance and seeking Allah’s forgiveness.  

However, if someone else who is not in the state of Ihraam, hunted it for himself, and offered or sold some of it to a person in the state of Ihraam, he is permitted to eat of it.

Related Articles