Prohibited Acts During the State of Ihram in the Light of Authentic Ahadith
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
① Narration of Ibn ‘Umar (RA):
It was asked from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about what clothing a person in Ihram may wear. He ﷺ said:
"He should not wear a shirt, turban, trousers, cap, or leather socks. But if someone does not have sandals, he may wear leather socks, cutting them below the ankles, and he should not wear any garment dyed with saffron or wars (a yellow plant)."
[Muslim: 1177, Bukhari: 1542, Abu Dawood: 1824, Tirmidhi: 833, Nasa’i: 5/131, Ibn Majah: 2929, etc.]
② Narration of Jabir (RA):
"Whoever cannot find two sandals should wear leather socks, and whoever cannot find an izar (lower garment) should wear trousers."
[Muslim: 1179, Ahmad: 3/323, Bayhaqi: 5/51, etc.]
③ Narration of Ibn ‘Umar (RA):
"A woman in Ihram must not wear a niqab or gloves."
[Bukhari: 1838, Abu Dawood: 1825, Ahmad: 2/22, Tirmidhi: 833, Nasa’i: 5/133, etc.]
◈ Note: Not wearing a niqab does not mean that a woman in Ihram should not cover her face from non-mahram men. It only means she should not wear a sewn face covering designed specifically for veiling. She may cover her face with her shawl.
Narration of ‘A’ishah (RA):
"When men used to pass by us while we were in Ihram with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, we would lower our jilbabs from the head over our faces, and when they passed, we would uncover our faces."
[Da’if: Da’if Abu Dawood: 399, etc.]
The Prophet ﷺ said regarding a Muhrim who died:
"Do not apply perfume to him."
[Sahih Nasa’i: 2671]
However, applying perfume before Ihram is permissible even if its fragrance remains during Ihram.
Narration of ‘A’ishah (RA):
"I used to apply perfume to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ before he entered Ihram and before he ended it, before performing Tawaf."
[Bukhari: 1539, Muslim: 789, etc.]
① The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah begin, and one of you intends to offer sacrifice, let him not touch anything of his hair or skin."
[Muslim: 1977]
② Allah says:
وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا رُؤُوسَكُمْ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ الهَدْيُ مَحِلَّهُ
[Al-Baqarah: 196]
③ Narration of Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah (RA) regarding lice infestation and the Prophet’s ﷺ concession to shave the head with fidyah.
[Bukhari: 1815, Muslim: 1201, etc.]
① Qur’anic Command:
فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ
[Al-Baqarah: 197]
② Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (RA):
"Whoever performs Hajj and does not engage in sexual talk or sin will return free of sins like the day his mother gave birth to him."
[Bukhari: 1521, Muslim: 1350]
Hadith of ‘Uthman (RA):
"A Muhrim must not marry, arrange a marriage, or propose."
[Muslim: 1409, Bukhari: 1837, etc.]
The claim of Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) that the Prophet ﷺ married Maimunah (RA) in Ihram is rejected by authentic reports from Maimunah herself confirming they were not in Ihram.
① Qur’anic Prohibition:
لَا تَقْتُلُوا الصَّيْدَ وَأَنْتُمْ حُرُمٌ
[Al-Ma’idah: 95]
Hunting of wild, edible animals is prohibited for the Muhrim.
If hunted intentionally, compensation equivalent to the animal in physical form or monetary value must be given, decided by two just men.
Eating hunted meat is permissible only if the Muhrim neither hunted it nor was it hunted for him. This is proven by the incident of Abu Qatadah (RA).
Narration of Ibn ‘Abbas (RA):
"Do not cut its thorny plants, do not hunt its animals, do not pick up lost property except to announce it, and do not uproot its grass, except idhkhir grass."
[Bukhari: 1834, Muslim: 1353]
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Five harmful animals may be killed in the Haram and outside it: scorpion, kite, crow, rat, and rabid dog."
[Bukhari: 3314, Muslim: 1198]
In another narration, the snake is also included.
Just as Makkah is a Haram, so is Madinah. Its trees and hunting are prohibited.
The hadith on its prohibition is weak; therefore, the stronger opinion is that hunting and cutting trees there are permissible.
Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
◈ Clothing Restrictions for a Muhrim
① Narration of Ibn ‘Umar (RA):
It was asked from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about what clothing a person in Ihram may wear. He ﷺ said:
"He should not wear a shirt, turban, trousers, cap, or leather socks. But if someone does not have sandals, he may wear leather socks, cutting them below the ankles, and he should not wear any garment dyed with saffron or wars (a yellow plant)."
[Muslim: 1177, Bukhari: 1542, Abu Dawood: 1824, Tirmidhi: 833, Nasa’i: 5/131, Ibn Majah: 2929, etc.]
② Narration of Jabir (RA):
"Whoever cannot find two sandals should wear leather socks, and whoever cannot find an izar (lower garment) should wear trousers."
[Muslim: 1179, Ahmad: 3/323, Bayhaqi: 5/51, etc.]
③ Narration of Ibn ‘Umar (RA):
"A woman in Ihram must not wear a niqab or gloves."
[Bukhari: 1838, Abu Dawood: 1825, Ahmad: 2/22, Tirmidhi: 833, Nasa’i: 5/133, etc.]
◈ Note: Not wearing a niqab does not mean that a woman in Ihram should not cover her face from non-mahram men. It only means she should not wear a sewn face covering designed specifically for veiling. She may cover her face with her shawl.
Narration of ‘A’ishah (RA):
"When men used to pass by us while we were in Ihram with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, we would lower our jilbabs from the head over our faces, and when they passed, we would uncover our faces."
[Da’if: Da’if Abu Dawood: 399, etc.]
◈ Prohibition of Applying Perfume After Entering Ihram
The Prophet ﷺ said regarding a Muhrim who died:
"Do not apply perfume to him."
[Sahih Nasa’i: 2671]
However, applying perfume before Ihram is permissible even if its fragrance remains during Ihram.
Narration of ‘A’ishah (RA):
"I used to apply perfume to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ before he entered Ihram and before he ended it, before performing Tawaf."
[Bukhari: 1539, Muslim: 789, etc.]
◈ Not Cutting Hair Without a Valid Excuse
① The Prophet ﷺ said:
"When the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah begin, and one of you intends to offer sacrifice, let him not touch anything of his hair or skin."
[Muslim: 1977]
② Allah says:
وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا رُؤُوسَكُمْ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ الهَدْيُ مَحِلَّهُ
[Al-Baqarah: 196]
③ Narration of Ka‘b ibn ‘Ujrah (RA) regarding lice infestation and the Prophet’s ﷺ concession to shave the head with fidyah.
[Bukhari: 1815, Muslim: 1201, etc.]
◈ Avoiding Sexual Acts, Disobedience, and Arguments
① Qur’anic Command:
فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ
[Al-Baqarah: 197]
② Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (RA):
"Whoever performs Hajj and does not engage in sexual talk or sin will return free of sins like the day his mother gave birth to him."
[Bukhari: 1521, Muslim: 1350]
◈ Prohibition of Marriage Contracts During Ihram
Hadith of ‘Uthman (RA):
"A Muhrim must not marry, arrange a marriage, or propose."
[Muslim: 1409, Bukhari: 1837, etc.]
The claim of Ibn ‘Abbas (RA) that the Prophet ﷺ married Maimunah (RA) in Ihram is rejected by authentic reports from Maimunah herself confirming they were not in Ihram.
◈ Prohibition of Hunting
① Qur’anic Prohibition:
لَا تَقْتُلُوا الصَّيْدَ وَأَنْتُمْ حُرُمٌ
[Al-Ma’idah: 95]
Hunting of wild, edible animals is prohibited for the Muhrim.
If hunted intentionally, compensation equivalent to the animal in physical form or monetary value must be given, decided by two just men.
Eating hunted meat is permissible only if the Muhrim neither hunted it nor was it hunted for him. This is proven by the incident of Abu Qatadah (RA).
◈ Prohibition of Cutting Trees in the Haram
Narration of Ibn ‘Abbas (RA):
"Do not cut its thorny plants, do not hunt its animals, do not pick up lost property except to announce it, and do not uproot its grass, except idhkhir grass."
[Bukhari: 1834, Muslim: 1353]
◈ Permissibility of Killing Harmful Animals in Ihram
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Five harmful animals may be killed in the Haram and outside it: scorpion, kite, crow, rat, and rabid dog."
[Bukhari: 3314, Muslim: 1198]
In another narration, the snake is also included.
◈ Medina’s Haram Status
Just as Makkah is a Haram, so is Madinah. Its trees and hunting are prohibited.
◈ Wadi Waj in Ta’if
The hadith on its prohibition is weak; therefore, the stronger opinion is that hunting and cutting trees there are permissible.
