Women's Rules for Hajj & Umrah
A dedicated guide covering the specific Fiqh rulings for sisters performing the pilgrimage.
Fiqh & Rulings1. The Ihram Clothing for Women
Unlike men, who must wear two specific white unstitched sheets, women do not have a specific Ihram garment or color. A woman's Ihram is her normal, modest Islamic clothing.
- You can wear stitched clothing (Abaya, dress, trousers).
- You can wear any color (black, white, blue, etc.), though it is best to avoid overly decorative or flashy garments.
- You can wear socks and closed shoes.
- Prohibition: You must not wear a tailored face veil (Niqab) that ties around the face, nor can you wear gloves. If non-mahram men are near, you may drape a piece of cloth from your head over your face.
2. Menstruation (Haidh) Rules
A woman experiencing menstruation (or postnatal bleeding) is still permitted to enter the state of Ihram and perform almost all the rites of Hajj, with one major exception.
The Tawaf Prohibition
A menstruating woman cannot enter the Masjid al-Haram, and therefore cannot perform Tawaf around the Kaaba. She must wait until she is pure and has performed Ghusl to do her Tawaf. However, she can do everything else (stay in Mina, stand at Arafat, sleep in Muzdalifah, stone the Jamarat).
If you are performing Umrah and your cycle begins, you must remain in your Ihram state in your hotel until you are pure, then perform Ghusl, Tawaf, Sa'i, and cut your hair.
3. Reciting the Talbiyah
While men are encouraged to raise their voices loudly when chanting the Talbiyah ("Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik"), women should recite it softly. It should only be loud enough for her to hear herself, or for the women immediately next to her to hear.
4. Cutting the Hair (Taqsir)
To exit the state of Ihram, men must shave their heads or trim their hair all over. Women, however, are forbidden from shaving their heads.
The Rule: A woman simply gathers her hair (like a ponytail) and cuts off the length of a fingertip (about 1 inch or 2-3 cm) from the end. This can be done by herself or by another woman who is already out of Ihram, or by her Mahram.
5. Raml & Jogging during Sa'i
During the first three rounds of Tawaf, men perform 'Raml' (walking briskly with short steps). During Sa'i between Safa and Marwah, men jog between the green lights.
Women do neither of these. A woman should maintain her normal, modest walking pace at all times during Tawaf and Sa'i.
6. The Mahram Requirement
Traditionally, a woman must travel for Hajj or Umrah with a Mahram (a male relative she cannot marry, like her husband, father, brother, or adult son). However, in recent years, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has officially permitted women of all ages to perform Hajj and Umrah without a Mahram, provided they travel in a secure group of women.