✍ Written by: Maqbool Ahmad Salafi – Islamic Da'wah Center, Jeddah
Firstly, both men and women should understand that Iḥrām is not a specific garment, but rather the intention to perform Ḥajj or ʿUmrah. Therefore, the iḥrām of both men and women is the same — it is the intention (نُسُك) for Ḥajj or ʿUmrah.
For ʿUmrah:
اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ عُمْرَةً
For Ḥajj:
اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ حَجًّا
Upon uttering these words, a person — male or female — enters the state of iḥrām.
There is a difference between men and women in terms of clothing during iḥrām:
Although women are allowed to wear stitched clothes during iḥrām, two items are specifically prohibited:
① Niqāb or Burqa
② Gloves
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما:
وَلَا تَنْتَقِبِ الْمَرْأَةُ الْمُحْرِمَةُ، وَلَا تَلْبَسِ الْقُفَّازَيْنِ
“A woman in iḥrām should neither wear a face veil nor gloves.”
This shows that during the Prophet’s ﷺ time, women used to cover their faces and hands with specific garments such as niqāb and gloves. However, in the state of iḥrām, these stitched and shaped coverings are prohibited.
There are two common misunderstandings, particularly among women:
① Women are not to cover their faces during iḥrām.
② Cloth should not touch the woman’s cheeks during iḥrām.
Both are incorrect. This article aims to correct these misconceptions for the betterment of Muslim women.
The confusion arises from a misinterpretation of the Hadith. When it says a woman in iḥrām should not wear a niqāb, some wrongly infer that face covering itself is prohibited. In reality, the Hadith only prohibits wearing stitched or shaped cloths like niqāb and gloves, not face covering in general.
“The type of garment that is sewn and shaped to the structure of the face or hands, like the niqāb or gloves, is prohibited during iḥrām. This does not mean women should not cover their faces or hands at all. Instead, they should cover them without using the specifically prohibited garments.”
Here are clear proofs that women covered their faces even during iḥrām in the time of the Prophet ﷺ:
كَانَ الرُّكْبَانُ يَمُرُّونَ بِنَا وَنَحْنُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مُحْرِمَاتٌ، فَإِذَا حَاذَوْا بِنَا سَدَلَتْ إِحْدَانَا جِلْبَابَهَا مِنْ رَأْسِهَا عَلَى وَجْهِهَا، فَإِذَا جَاوَزُونَا كَشَفْنَاهُ
“When the riders would pass by us while we were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the state of iḥrām, we would lower our jilbāb over our faces, and when they had passed, we would uncover them.”
From Asmā’ bint Abī Bakr رضي الله عنها:
كُنَّا نُغَطِّيَ وُجُوهَنَا مِنَ الرِّجَالِ، وَكُنَّا نَتَمَشَّطُ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ فِي الإِحْرَامِ
“We used to cover our faces from men while in the state of iḥrām, and we used to comb our hair before that.”
From Fāṭimah bint al-Mundhir:
كُنَّا نُخَمِّرُ وُجُوهَنَا وَنَحْنُ مُحْرِمَاتٌ وَنَحْنُ مَعَ أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ
“We used to cover our faces while in iḥrām and we were with Asmā’ bint Abī Bakr.”
Women may wear:
✔ A stitched garment such as shalwar qamees or ʿabāyah.
✔ To cover the face and hands, use a wide scarf or shawl, ensuring the face and hands are concealed without wearing stitched niqāb or gloves.
Other points:
◈ Stop thinking that face covering is prohibited in iḥrām. It was never forbidden; only niqāb and gloves are. A woman must cover her face with a loose veil during iḥrām.
◈ Avoid using caps (like Western-style hats) under scarves to keep cloth off the face. This is incorrect. Let the cloth touch the cheeks; there is no harm in it.
◈ If the iḥrām garment gets dirty, or for any valid reason needs to be changed — it is allowed. A woman may also take ghusl (ritual bath) while in iḥrām.
◈ If a woman unintentionally assumes iḥrām wearing a niqāb, or performs ʿumrah in that state, she is not sinful because it was done out of forgetfulness or ignorance.
◈ Once the ʿUmrah is complete, i.e., after the final step of cutting hair, the state of iḥrām ends. There is no need to change clothing or take a bath.
❖ The Real Meaning of Iḥrām
Firstly, both men and women should understand that Iḥrām is not a specific garment, but rather the intention to perform Ḥajj or ʿUmrah. Therefore, the iḥrām of both men and women is the same — it is the intention (نُسُك) for Ḥajj or ʿUmrah.
For ʿUmrah:
اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ عُمْرَةً
For Ḥajj:
اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ حَجًّا
Upon uttering these words, a person — male or female — enters the state of iḥrām.
❖ Clothing in the State of Iḥrām
There is a difference between men and women in terms of clothing during iḥrām:
- Men: Are prohibited from wearing stitched clothing and must wear unstitched garments.
- Women: Islam has preserved their modesty and chastity, hence stitched clothing is allowed for them. Women may wear regular garments like stitched dresses when assuming iḥrām.
❖ Prohibition of Niqāb, Burqa, and Gloves for Women in Iḥrām
Although women are allowed to wear stitched clothes during iḥrām, two items are specifically prohibited:
① Niqāb or Burqa
② Gloves
Evidence:
Narrated by ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما:
وَلَا تَنْتَقِبِ الْمَرْأَةُ الْمُحْرِمَةُ، وَلَا تَلْبَسِ الْقُفَّازَيْنِ
“A woman in iḥrām should neither wear a face veil nor gloves.”
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1838
This shows that during the Prophet’s ﷺ time, women used to cover their faces and hands with specific garments such as niqāb and gloves. However, in the state of iḥrām, these stitched and shaped coverings are prohibited.
❖ Clarifying Misconceptions
There are two common misunderstandings, particularly among women:
① Women are not to cover their faces during iḥrām.
② Cloth should not touch the woman’s cheeks during iḥrām.
Both are incorrect. This article aims to correct these misconceptions for the betterment of Muslim women.
❖ Cause of the Misunderstanding
The confusion arises from a misinterpretation of the Hadith. When it says a woman in iḥrām should not wear a niqāb, some wrongly infer that face covering itself is prohibited. In reality, the Hadith only prohibits wearing stitched or shaped cloths like niqāb and gloves, not face covering in general.
Explanation by Shaykh Ibn Bāz:
“The type of garment that is sewn and shaped to the structure of the face or hands, like the niqāb or gloves, is prohibited during iḥrām. This does not mean women should not cover their faces or hands at all. Instead, they should cover them without using the specifically prohibited garments.”
Reference: Majmūʿ Fatāwā Ibn Bāz: 5/223
❖ Evidence for Covering the Face During Iḥrām
Here are clear proofs that women covered their faces even during iḥrām in the time of the Prophet ﷺ:
Narrated by ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
كَانَ الرُّكْبَانُ يَمُرُّونَ بِنَا وَنَحْنُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مُحْرِمَاتٌ، فَإِذَا حَاذَوْا بِنَا سَدَلَتْ إِحْدَانَا جِلْبَابَهَا مِنْ رَأْسِهَا عَلَى وَجْهِهَا، فَإِذَا جَاوَزُونَا كَشَفْنَاهُ
“When the riders would pass by us while we were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the state of iḥrām, we would lower our jilbāb over our faces, and when they had passed, we would uncover them.”
Reference: Abū Dāwūd: 1833, Ibn Mājah: 2935, Aḥmad: 24021
- Though one of the narrators (Yazīd ibn Abī Ziyād) is weak, Shaykh al-Albānī graded this narration as ḥasan due to supporting evidence.
Another Authentic Narration:
From Asmā’ bint Abī Bakr رضي الله عنها:
كُنَّا نُغَطِّيَ وُجُوهَنَا مِنَ الرِّجَالِ، وَكُنَّا نَتَمَشَّطُ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ فِي الإِحْرَامِ
“We used to cover our faces from men while in the state of iḥrām, and we used to comb our hair before that.”
Reference: Ibn Khuzaymah: 4/203, Ḥākim: 1/454
- Graded Ṣaḥīḥ by Shaykh al-Albānī in Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl: 4/212.
From Fāṭimah bint al-Mundhir:
كُنَّا نُخَمِّرُ وُجُوهَنَا وَنَحْنُ مُحْرِمَاتٌ وَنَحْنُ مَعَ أَسْمَاءَ بِنْتِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ
“We used to cover our faces while in iḥrām and we were with Asmā’ bint Abī Bakr.”
Reference: Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl: 4/212
- Also declared authentic by Shaykh al-Albānī.
❖ How Should a Woman Cover Her Face in Iḥrām?
Women may wear:
✔ A stitched garment such as shalwar qamees or ʿabāyah.
✔ To cover the face and hands, use a wide scarf or shawl, ensuring the face and hands are concealed without wearing stitched niqāb or gloves.
Other points:
- Wearing socks, jewelry (rings, bangles, anklets, watch, hair clips, ribbons, etc.) is permissible.
- There's no need to remove adornments like earrings or nose pins.
- The following acts are prohibited during iḥrām: applying perfume, cutting hair/nails, marriage contract, sexual intercourse, and hunting.
❖ Additional Clarifications
◈ Stop thinking that face covering is prohibited in iḥrām. It was never forbidden; only niqāb and gloves are. A woman must cover her face with a loose veil during iḥrām.
◈ Avoid using caps (like Western-style hats) under scarves to keep cloth off the face. This is incorrect. Let the cloth touch the cheeks; there is no harm in it.
◈ If the iḥrām garment gets dirty, or for any valid reason needs to be changed — it is allowed. A woman may also take ghusl (ritual bath) while in iḥrām.
◈ If a woman unintentionally assumes iḥrām wearing a niqāb, or performs ʿumrah in that state, she is not sinful because it was done out of forgetfulness or ignorance.
◈ Once the ʿUmrah is complete, i.e., after the final step of cutting hair, the state of iḥrām ends. There is no need to change clothing or take a bath.
Conclusion:
- Covering the face during iḥrām is permissible and was practiced by the women of the Prophet’s ﷺ time.
- Only shaped and stitched garments (like niqāb/gloves) are prohibited.
- Loose veils and shawls should be used to cover the face and hands.
- Misinterpretations must be corrected to ensure women observe Islamic rulings correctly during Ḥajj and ʿUmrah.
