The evening before or the morning of departure for Makkah: full ablution, nails cut, hair removed, perfume on the body (men, before the intention, never on the garments). Put on the ihram garments at the hotel: the Dhul Hulayfah miqat is a few minutes’ drive away. Women: usual loose clothing, no gloves or niqab. Keep a change of clothes in the bus bag.
Educational guide. If in doubt, ask your guide or a scholar.
Common mistakes
- Applying perfume after the intention.
- Forgetting a belt for the ihram (a simple belt is allowed).
- Pins, complicated knots: the ihram is held by the belt.
What if…
No time for full ablution?
It is recommended, not obligatory: at least perform ablution.
It is cold?
Men: you may wear a blanket or shawl over the shoulders, but not on the head.
Checklist
- ☐ Full ablution
- ☐ Nails and hair removal
- ☐ Perfume on the body (men) before the intention
- ☐ Ihram garments worn, belt
- ☐ Bus bag: water, medication, papers
Sources
- Bukhari 1539, Muslim 1189 (perfume before ihram)
- Bukhari 1838 (ihram prohibitions; niqab and gloves)
All steps
- 1Stay in Madinah
- 2Preparing ihram at the hotel
- 3Ihram at the Dhul Hulayfah miqat (Abyar Ali)
- 4Madinah → Makkah journey in talbiya
- 5Entering Makkah and the Sacred Mosque
- 6Tawaf: 7 circuits around the Kaaba
- 7Prayer behind Maqam Ibrahim and Zamzam water
- 8Saʿi: 7 laps between Safa and Marwa
- 9Halq or taqsir: leaving ihram
- 10The return