Ehram

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This is a sub-article of Hajj and Islamic cleanliness.

Ehram (إحرام iḥrām, from the root of H-R-M) is, in Islam, a sacred state which a Muslim must enter in order to perform the major pilgrimage (Hajj) or the minor pilgrimage (Umrah). A pilgrim must enter into this state before crossing the pilgrimage boundary, known as Miqat, by performing the cleansing rituals and wearing the prescribed attire.

Contents 1 Clothing 2 Behavior and hygiene 3 See also 4 External links

[edit] Clothing

Ihram clothing is simply an item of clothing to be worn during the pilgrimage, but there are many competing views on the proper wearing of ihram. For example, the exact number of days a pilgrim is required to wear ihram varies according to the type of pilgrimage (Hajj) the individual is performing.

[edit] Behavior and hygiene

Aside from being as clean as they are for prayer, males are expected to cut their nails, trim their hair and beards, and wear Ihram clothing. Many also shave their head as this is hygienic. Females are expected to dress in proper clothing and to also be clean. At the beginning of a pilgrimage, the Muslim stops at a designated station to perform certain ritual cleansing ceremonies; each male shaves his head, cuts his nails, and trims his beard before donning a white, seamless, two-piece garment. Women also wear white; although no particular dress is prescribed, by tradition they wear long robes. During the period of sanctification, sexual activity, shaving, and cutting one's nails all are forbidden in accordance with the pilgrim's special relationship to God during the ihram.

The word is also used for the state of a worshipper during the performance of the salat, the ritual prayer repeated five times daily.

Certain behavior is also expected. A haaji (someone who performs the Hajj) should refrain from: killing animals or eating meat (thereby causing animals to be killed for them), using profane language, quarrelling or fighting, taking an oath, engaging in sexual activity, in addition to any other regularly prohibited acts. Males should also refrain from looking at women and women should exercise strict modesty in their appearance and not to apply make-up or any other cosmetics

[edit] See also

• Mut'ah of Hajj
• H-R-M

[edit] External links

• The Five Pillars of Islam, Hajj (Pilgrimage), The Fifth Pillar of Islam, Holy Sites/Mistakes of Pilgrims - An article on the many different beliefs surrounding the wearing of ihram by Sheikh Dr. Ghanim Saleh Al-Sadlan, professor of Higher Islamic Studies at the Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, in Riyadh.
• http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=9042079