Question:
What is the ruling on a woman wearing socks and gloves while in ihram? Also, can a woman remove the clothing of ihram?
Answer:
For women, wearing ihram in socks and the like is better and is a means of covering. If she wears ihram in ordinary clothing, that will also suffice. If she wore ihram in socks and then took them off, there is no harm in that, just as if a man wears ihram in shoes and then takes them off, there is no harm in that either. However, a woman may not wear ihram in gloves, because it is forbidden for a woman to do so, just as it is forbidden for her to wear a face-veil, since the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade it. However, if she has to face non-mahram men somewhere, she should let a shawl or dupatta or the like hang over her face. The same must be done during tawaf and sa’i.
❀ Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
كان الركبان يمرون بنا، ونحن مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فإذا حاذونا سدلت احدانا جلبابها من رأسها على وجهها، فإذا جاوزونا كشفناه
“We were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and caravans would pass by us. When they came level with us, each of us would let her outer garment hang from her head down over her face, and when they had passed us, we would uncover it.”
According to the correct view, it is permissible for a man to wear khuffs (leather socks) during ihram even if they are not cut, whereas the majority order that they be cut off from below; but the correct position is that, when sandals are not available, it is permissible to wear them without cutting them. This is because the Prophet ﷺ, during his sermon at Arafat, said:
من لم يجد إزارا فليلبس السراويل، ومن لم يجد نعلين فليلبس الخفين
“Whoever does not have a waist-wrapper should wear trousers, and whoever does not have sandals should wear khuffs (leather socks).”
He ﷺ did not order them to be cut on that occasion, and this is evidence that the order to cut them has been abrogated. والله ولي التوفيق
