The prohibitions of iḥrām, in plain language
What is forbidden, what is merely disliked, what carries an expiation and what does not — with the references, without the anxiety.
A great deal of avoidable distress during pilgrimage comes from uncertainty about the state of iḥrām — a pilgrim who used scented soap by accident and spends three days convinced the ʿUmrah is void.
Forbidden while in iḥrām
- Cutting hair or trimming nails deliberately.
- Applying perfume or scented products to the body or clothing after entering the state.
- Sexual relations and the preliminaries to them; intimate speech is likewise avoided.
- Contracting a marriage, whether for oneself or on behalf of another.
- Hunting or assisting in the hunting of land game.
- For men: stitched garments shaped to the body, and covering the head.
- For women: covering the face with a fitted veil, or wearing gloves.
Commonly misunderstood
- Unscented soap, deodorant without fragrance, and washing are permitted.
- A woman's ordinary clothing is permitted; there is no special garment required.
- Carrying a bag, wearing a belt, watch, glasses or sandals is permitted.
- Sheltering under an umbrella or in a vehicle is permitted.
- An unintentional violation, made in forgetfulness or ignorance, generally carries no expiation once corrected.
If something happens
Stop the action, remove the cause where possible, and continue. Where an expiation is due — most commonly a fast, a charity or a sacrifice, depending on the violation and the school followed — it is a defined and modest matter, not an annulment of the pilgrimage.
“Scrupulosity is not piety. The religion is intended to be manageable.”
The in-app reference marks each item with its ruling, its school-by-school variation and its source, and refers personal cases to a scholar rather than resolving them.
Last updated 10 February 2026