Common mistakes in Hajj - In Ihraam

Common Mistakes You don’t want to Make
Translated by Muhammad Alshareef

It's an interesting way of learning. Going backwards, seeing what people commonly do wrong, and learning Hajj by way of what 'not' to do.

In Ihraam

• Do not pass the Meeqat without being in the state of Ihraam. If you are landing in Jeddah and going to Makkah to perform Umrah directly, you must be in a state of Ihraam before you land, as the plane shall enter the Meeqat. Jeddah is inside the Meeqat.
  
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• If you are landing in Jeddah, you need your Ihraam towels with you on the airplane in your carry-on bag.
  
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• Women may wear anything Islamically permissible for Ihraam.
  
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• Do not take pictures of yourself in Ihraam. You came to worship Allah and taking pictures for showing others later may contradict your sincerity of doing this for the sake of Allah.
  
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• Women in their menses must be in a state of Ihraam when they pass the Meeqat. They should shower and do talbiyah like everyone else.
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• Do not uncover your right shoulder until you reach the Ka’bah and begin Tawaf. This is the time that the Messenger uncovered his shoulder and it is an act of Hajj, so we must follow when the Prophet did it.
• It is disliked for a man to pray with his shoulders bare, for the Prophet has said, "None of you must pray in a single garment of which no part comes over his shoulders." [Narrated by : Bukhari and Muslim; vide Bulugh al-Maram #223]
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• You may change your Ihraam towels if they get dirty
  
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• You do not enter into Ihraam by just wearing the towels. You must make the intention to begin.
  
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• Do not shave your beard, whether before, during or after Ihraam.                                                                                                                               
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• You should wear sandals, but if you do not have sandals, you do not have to walk barefoot. Wear what you have until you find a place to get sandals.
  
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• When beginning your Ihraam for Hajj, do it from where you are: in your hotel, on the street, etc. You do not have to go to the Ka’bah to start your Ihraam for Hajj.
  
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• DO pay attention to what you are saying when you are making the Talbiyah: Labayk Allahumma Labbayk…
  
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• When you hear that you are not allowed to wear stitches in Ihraam, know that what is meant is that you cannot wear pieces of cloth that are sewn together to wrap your body, such as a T-Shirt or underwear.
  
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• Both men and women may shower with unscented soap. Yes, for women and men, you may comb your hair, as the Prophet’s wives used to do when they were in Ihraam.