Every year, in the Holy month of Zil-Hajj, millions of Muslims perform Hajj to fulfill their religious obligation to Allah Almighty. Hajj is performed in a special dress called Ihram and while the Ihram dress for men tends to be quite simple, women face quite a few difficulties regarding their outfits. Since Saudi Arabia is a relatively very hot country, it becomes difficult to wear thick clothes in the hot climate of Saudi Arabia. The instructions of Islam must be incorporated as well as escaping the scorching heat of Makkah and Medina. Keeping in mind the above-mentioned difficulties, we have created a guide for women so that they can wear in comfort. Here are some tips to choosing the right costume for Hajj.
Following tips must be kept in mind while packing your bags for Hajj journey
Ihram Dress for women
For Muslims, Ihram is not just only a piece of clothing that they wear while performing Hajj or Umrah. It is the uniform which every Muslim man and women has to wear while performing Hajj. In fact, Muslims get spiritual reward when they cover themselves from the two sheets of Ihram. It is as spiritual as saying your prayer or reciting the Holy verses of the Quran.
Women must cover themselves from head to toes with plain sheets, apart from face and hands. Women can wear clothes of any kind and color, however, wearing body-hugging, colorful, or flamboyant clothes is strictly forbidden. The core idea of Ihram is to practice modesty, so wearing plain or basic clothes is recommended.
Likewise, wearing any sort of jewelry with Ihram is highly discouraged. Therefore, it is preferable that women put on either black or white Abaya. Due to the burning heat in Saudi Arabia, clothes of light material are easy to wear under the loose-fitted gown. Some gowns are transparent, so making sure that the Abaya is covering your entire body is important. One of the most crucial tips is to keep three sets of Ihram during this religious journey because of the limited time to wash clothes. So, it is good to take clothes that are easily washable and appropriate for the journey.
Many women wear the Ihram for the first time in their lives which makes it difficult for them to carry the abaya. But covering your head is an obligatory condition for the ceremony of Hajj, therefore, they are required to carry the abaya well with the scarf. There is a chance of losing the scarf while performing Tawaf or any other activity, so having a scarf cap proves to be very beneficial here. As setting your scarf during the prayer or Tawaf can become very daunting or even distracting, wearing a cap can save you from this experience.
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Obligations related to Ihram Dress
Before entering into Ihram, it is highly recommended that one’s body is pure and clean from additional hair. Nails must be clipped. It is Mustahhab (highly recommended) to take ghussal (bath) before entering Ihram.
The Ihram for women should not be made up of pure silk. Once in the state of Ihram, women must not comb or clip their hair to avoid hair fall. Glittery clothes are strictly prohibited.
Women should refrain from using cosmetics, scented oils and perfumes. This is to ensure that one connects with God directly without creating interruptions for others or attracting their attention.
It is advisable for women to wear white underclothing if they are wearing white Abayas. This is to prevent the underclothing from shining beneath the Abaya. Women are obligated to wear a Hijab, which is large enough to cover their entire body. It is a sign that they are graceful and have respect in front of men. This also protects them from evil eyes. After completion of Umrah, there is a ritual in which women cut an inch of their hair. This is called taqsir.
Women are restricted from chanting “Talbiyah” loudly. In case a woman violates any of the above-mentioned rules for Ihram during Umrah she must pay obligatory Fidya as Ihram penalties.
Footwear
As we all know that Hajj is a physically challenging occasion and tests your physical strength. You have to walk for hours and hours, so wearing uncomfortable shoes should never be an option. Otherwise, they would cause swelling or even blisters on your feet. For safety, you should have a soft and comfortable pair of shoes.
It is recommended to shop footwear from your go-to brand instead of experimenting with a new one. Because settling into new shoes is always a time-taking and for some people painful experience. Moreover, it is recommended to carry a used pair of shoes as they are usually soft as compared to new ones that can be stiff and sometime not fit to the size causing severe inconveniences.
Almost everyone wears sneakers or shoes during the Hajj. As women hide their feet during Hajj, they would occasionally wear flip flops with a pair of socks. Wearing shoes that tie with laces is not a good choice because laces can cause a serious distraction. They also increase the chances of stumbling upon your feet as they can loosen up without you noticing them. Whatever you choose to wear, be mindful that you are permitted to wear anything which does not put you in the spotlight. So, wearing basic white or black sneakers, flip flops, or sticking shoes is the safest option out there for you.
Survival under the burning Sun
It is needless to mention how harsh the weather conditions are in Saudi Arabia. The sun can burn your skin there. So, you must get both mentally and physically prepared for this exertion and opt for necessary measures to so that you complete your journey without any illness or inconvenience. Choose the clothes which have a texture that doesn't absorb heat. For example, clothes that are made of pure fabric would absorb heat, but that’s not the case with mixed fabric, which does not absorb heat, so you must prefer wearing mixed fabric instead of pure fabric while going for Hajj. Moreover, you should also be mindful of one of the basic principles that black absorbs more heat than any other colors. Therefore, you must wear white dresses to avoid scorching heat of sun. Choosing white clothes over clothes of any other color makes a huge difference.
The one must-go-to essential for this venture is sunglasses. Wear a scarf or carry an umbrella to protect your head from heatstroke. You will not see any women without any scarf, umbrella, or sunglasses there. One can exaggerate the fact that carrying less is more and whatever you carry in your handbag try to hang it on the front side instead of your back as you can easily take things out from the bag within a short span of time. One thing that must be noted here is that you are not allowed to take large backpacks with you inside Masjid-al-Haram, so carry mini bags with you.
Constraints in Islam:
Not only wearing inappropriate dresses can affect the sanity of one’s Hajj, but there are also other things that can breach the limitations of Ihram. Just like men, women are also not permitted to shave or remove their hair. So, slightly comb the hair avoiding the risk of getting your hair plucked out from your head. Likewise, nail trimming is also prohibited during Ihram. People use deodorant, shampoo, or soap without any fragrances because they are not allowed to wear them during Ihram. One can use conventional Miswak to clean their teeth.
These are surface-level things that are restricted in Islam during the Hajj. However, there are other things as well that are of higher significance in Hajj. It includes spiritual sanity, so cleaning both your mind and soul from any negative or evil thought is a key thing here. For example, one should be his most genuine self, respect each other’s differences, avoid backbiting, and consider everyone equal there.
Final Word
The sacred Ihram state brings a person one step closer to Allah and ensures that the pilgrim performs Umrah or Hajj successfully. The primary goal for an Ihram attire for women is to ensure they all appear the same and do not attract people’s attention. It keeps them humble and devoted to the pilgrimage and surrender themselves in front of Allah. To complete the journey peacefully and safely, women should dress accordingly and attain the sacred state of Ihram.
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