What Is Forbidden in Ihram

In ihram, men and women alike must avoid: removing hair, clipping the nails, using perfume, hunting land game, sexual intercourse and what leads to it, and marriage. Allah says: ﴿لَا تَقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلصَّيْدَ وَأَنتُمْ حُرُمٌ﴾ (“Do not kill game while you are in ihram”), and of the pilgrimage: ﴿فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ﴾ (“there is no intimacy, no disobedience and no quarrelling in the Hajj”).

A man in addition may not wear fitted clothing such as a shirt, trousers or a hooded cloak, may not cover his head, and may not wear footwear that covers the ankles. The Prophet ﷺ listed these when he was asked what the pilgrim may wear, and forbade clothes scented with saffron or wars. A woman wears her normal clothing, without a niqab or gloves, as described above.

The Prophet ﷺ also said that one in ihram does not marry, nor give someone in marriage. The schools differ on whether such a marriage contract is valid.

If someone has to break one of these rules out of need, such as shaving because of illness or lice, he owes a compensation (fidyah). The Prophet ﷺ told Ka'b ibn 'Ujrah to shave and then fast three days, feed six poor people, or sacrifice a sheep.