Table Of Contents
What the Prophet Said about Clothing in Ihram
It was narrated from Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that a man said: “O Messenger of Allah, what garments may a Muhrim (pilgrim in Ihram) wear?” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The Muhrim (a person in Ihram) should not wear a shirt, pants, a burnous, or shoes, unless he cannot find any sandals, in which case he may wear something that comes below his ankles.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 5458 and Muslim 1177)
Can Jackets and `Abayas Be Worn in Ihram?
In this Hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade wearing things that are forbidden only for the Muhrim , and are permitted to everyone else.
By analogy with what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade, other things are also forbidden such as jackets and `Abayas; if the pilgrim puts them on his shoulders then this is a garment that is forbidden, but it is permissible for him to wrap himself in them if he wants to keep warm without wearing them.
Wrapping Garments Without Wearing Them: A Permissible Alternative
Shaykh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
Similarly it is permissible to wear anything that is akin to the Izar (waist-wrapper, lower garment) and Rida’ (upper garment). So he may wrap himself in an `Abayah, jubbah, shirt and so on, and cover himself – according to the majority of scholars – by wearing it sideways or upside down, and cover himself with a blanket and so on, but he should not cover his head with it except in the case of necessity. (End quote from Majmu` Al-Fatawa, 26/110).
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih Al-`Uthaymin said – discussing what male pilgrims are forbidden to wear in Ihram –:
He should not wear a shirt, turban, burnous, pants or shoes, unless he cannot find an Izar, in which case he may wear pants, or he cannot find sandals, in which case he may wear shoes .
He should not wear anything that is similar to the things mentioned above, so he should not wear an `Abayah, outer garment, hat, t-shirt and so on. (End quote from Kayfa yu’addi Al-Muslim Manasik Al-Hajj wal-`Umrah, pp.7-8)
There is nothing wrong with wrapping a shirt around one's body without wearing it, and there is nothing wrong with wearing an `Abayah as a Rida’, so that it is not worn in the usual fashion. (End quote from Manasik Al-Hajj wal-`Umrah, p. 64)
What If There’s a Need Due to Cold?
Based on this, if it is cold, then the Muhrim may wrap an `Abayah or something else around himself, without wearing it in the usual manner. If he needs to wear a jacket because he cannot find anything else to keep the cold away, then there is no sin on him if he wears it, but he must pay the Fidyah by sacrificing a sheep or fasting for three days, or feeding six poor persons.
Fidyah Options
He may do any of these three things, because of the Hadith of Ka`b ibn `Ujrah (may Allah have mercy on him): when he needed to shave his head when he was in Ihram, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to him: “Shave (your head) and fast three days, or feed six poor people, or offer a sacrifice.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 4190 and Muslim 1201)
And Allah knows best.
