Question:
What are the differences between a male and female when performing Hajj?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
There are a number of differences between a male and female in Ihram and whilst performing the Hajj and Umrah rites:
1) A woman must not let any cloth touch her face and her head must be covered. However, this does not mean she should not do hijab. She should wear a veil suspended from a cap. These type of veils are available to purchase. The man must keep his head uncovered.
2) It is permissible for a lady to wear gloves. A male cannot wear gloves in the state of Ihrām.
3) A lady may wear socks and shoes. A man cannot wear socks or shoes. He must leave the instep of the foot exposed.
4) A woman will not recite the Talbiyah audibly. A man should recite the Talbiyah aloud but not to the extent that it disturbs others.
5) A woman will not perform Raml (walking briskly) when performing Tawāf. A male will perform Raml in any Tawāf which precedes a Sa’i.
6) A woman will not do Idhtibā’ (leaving the right shoulder exposed) in Ihraam) for Tawāf. A male will do Idhtibā’.
7) When performing Sa’i, a woman will not run between the two green lights. A male should run between the two green lights.
8) A woman will not shave her hair off her head (Halaq). She will only cut off one inch from her hair. A male has the discretion of either shaving or trimming
9) A female can wear her normal sewn clothes. It is not permissible for a male to dress normally in his day to day clothing in the state of Ihram.
10) A woman must not go near the al-Hajr al-Aswad (the black stone) to kiss it in peak times. A male may go on condition he does not cause others difficulty by pushing and shoving.
11) A woman should not perform her two Rak’ats Wājib Salāh after Tawāf near the Maqām Ibrahim (Station of Ibrahim) at peak times. A male may perform the two Ra’kats near Maqām Ibrahim if there is space.
12)A woman will not be penalised with a Dam penalty for leaving the Wajib of Tawāf al-Widā’ due to haidh (menstruation) or nifas (post-natal bleeding). Likewise, if she delays the performance of Tawāf al-Ziyārah and performs it after the 12th of Dhul Hijjah, she will not have to give a dam penalty for delaying.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Darul Fiqh Team
