How to Wear an Ihram - Men / Women / Kids

Bengali Muslims often want to do Umrah but have little idea how to wear an Ihram. It’s a Sunnah act that needs to be done when entering Ihram. To do that, men need to wrap themselves in two white cloths and women need to wear sewed garments with hijab.

For kids, it’s the same as the men and women based on gender. Don’t worry if you find understanding the dress code and process difficult.

In this guide, I’ll explain exactly how you should wear the Ihram cloth as a beginner for men, women, and kids. Let’s begin!

Here’s How to Wear an Ihram

While it can be a little tricky for a beginner, wearing the Ihram is obligatory when performing the Umrah. To help you out with this, let me break down exactly how to do it:

How to Wear Ihram for Men?

For men's Ihram clothing, there are certain things that you as a pilgrim coming from Bangladesh need to get to wear properly. These include:

• Two white clothes that are long enough to wrap the bottom and upper body.
• One Ihram belt
• A pair of sandals or slippers that don’t hide the toes or feet’s top area.

After getting these in your wardrobe, you can wear the Ihram cloth by yourself by following the given steps:

Step 1: Position Yourself

To begin with, you’ll need to stand in a position where your legs are wide apart. Be sure to do it comfortably. That way when you wrap the Ihram around your lower body, you get enough space to walk properly.

Step 2: Wrap Ihram Around Your Lower Body

• Take one of the white clothes and put it behind you. Just be sure that half of the cloth is in front of you, and the other half stays behind you.
• Cover the cloth around your lower body by pulling it tight to hide your stomach. It should be done in a way where the two sides of the cloth meet on the opposite side of your body like you are sandwiched in the cloth.
• Squeeze the two sides of the cloth together strongly so that both stay in place around your lower body. Be sure the top of the cloth is above your belly button and the bottom stays below your knees.
• Hold the squeezed part firmly and bring the ends forward. Then, you’ll need to fold them together over the front of your lower body.

Step 3: Adjust the Ihram Clothes in Your Lower Body

Based on how long the cloth is, you can either fold or lift it several times to get the perfect height. Here’s how you can do it:

• Hold your stomach inside and hold the top of the Ihram wrapping around your lower body.
• Roll and tuck it in a downward direction. Be sure to do it firmly so it stays in place.
• Once it’s done, release your stomach and continue to roll it. Ensure that the belly button stays hidden even if you roll or fold the Ihram.

Don’t worry if it creates a thick layer over the front of your lower body. This will help in the following step when you put on the belt. Just be sure that it doesn’t fall off when you start walking or moving and stay firmly against your body.

Step 4: Put on the Ihram Belt

To add additional safety so that your Ihram doesn’t fall off when you walk, it is good to wear an Ihram belt or any usual money belt around your waist.

Step 5: Wrap Ihram around Your Upper Body

Now that you have successfully wrapped your lower body, it’s time to cover the upper side too. Here’s how you can do it:

• Grab the second white cloth and hold it behind your back.
• Bring the two edges of the cloth covering each side of your shoulder so that the cloth rests on your body. Be sure the right side is longer and your hands are in front of you.
• Pull the longer side of the cloth around the front and secure it over your left shoulder to ensure it is covering your torso.
• In the case of Idtiba, you’ll need to expose your right shoulder. To do that, just place one side of the cloth over your left shoulder and take the other edge of the cloth under your arm so that the right shoulder stays exposed.
• Then, you’ll need to bring the right side in front of you and sip the left side of the cloth under the right arm. That way it won’t fall.

How to Wear Ihram for Women?

In the case of women's Ihram clothing for Umrah, it is suggested to stitch white cloth with a long hijab that covers everything. Unlike men, they have some things to follow while wearing the clothes. These include:

• The dress needs to be comfortable and loose-fitted.
• The clothing should be made of thick material so that no one can see the inner body parts or their shape. It’s a must-have thing to do!
• Women can wear the burqa in any shade but mostly it’s better to wear a white one. 
• It’s better to avoid hiding your face with a niqab or gloves. It is narrated in Sahih Bukhari (1838) that the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) said the women mustn’t wear niqab or gloves. However, you can do it if the cloth isn’t touching your face to ensure proper covering.
• Women shouldn’t wear jewelry or any sort of ornament.

How to Wear Ihram for Kids?

For kids, it’s the same ruling based on gender. In other words, the kids need to wear the same type of clothes that men and women wear for Ihram. The only difference is that the clothes would be a little tiny while the rest is the same.

• Female kids can wear their sewed white dress along with the hijab. On the other hand, the male kid needs to wear the Ihram cloth using 2 pieces of white cloth along with the belt. Here’s the detail of the procedure:
• Start by keeping your kid standing comfortably while the legs are apart.
• Then, wrap one white cloth around your kid’s lower body, covering from the belly button to below the knees. Be sure to bend the upper edge of the cloth and tuck it down several times.
• After that, fold or roll the cloth to adjust the height, ensuring your kid’s belly button stays covered.
• Now, secure the Ihram cloth with a belt around your waist.
• Next, take the second white cloth and drape it over your kid’s shoulders, with the longer side staying on the right shoulder. Be sure to expose your kid’s right shoulder by passing one side under your right arm and tucking it in.

FAQ’s

1. What men can’t wear in Ihram?

Men can’t wear socks, undergarments, or any other clothes inside and outside. They can't even cover their head with hats or anything.

2. Can a woman wear socks in Ihram?

A woman can wear socks in Ihram as it is not necessary for her to show the center area of the feet, unlike men.

3. Can women wear gloves in Ihram?

Based on Shafi’i, Maleki, and Hanbali schools, women must not wear gloves in Ihram. However, they can do this if one wishes based on Hanafi school even if it’s not obligatory.

Ending Notes

Wearing an Ihram cloth isn’t hard as long as you know the procedure. All you need to do is to practice and follow the steps properly.

And, if you are planning to go for Umrah or need any help to make a decision, you can always trust ITS Holidays Ltd. who offers ideal packages and support.

I hope this guide helps you to understand this and you can do it yourself. Stay Blessed!