Keeping the Hair and Face Covered in Ihraam

Last updated on June 4th, 2025 at 12:37 pm

1. A woman should not expose her hair during Ihraam.
2. The hair is part of her satr (her intimate part) and hence it is waajib to keep it concealed.
3. If the hair becomes exposed it will not constitute a jinaayat of Ihraam and hence no penalty for it.
4. It is waajib for her to keep her hair concealed from non-mahram males.
5. She becomes sinful by exposing her hair to non-mahram males.
6. Removing her head covering for a valid reason, such as for a shower, is permissible. This does not constitute a jinaayat.
7. It is forbidden for a woman to expose her face in front of non-mahram males.
8. In Ihraam, a woman should therefore tie something on her head and drop a cloth (niqaab) over it ensuring that the face is covered and the cloth does not touch the face.

[Note: In view of the swarming crowds and scandalous brushing during Haj making it extremely difficult for her to keep a niqaab hanging in front of the face, the Fatwa of some senior Muftis is that she should wear her niqaab in the normal fashion and pay the prescribed penalty. The reason for this is the much greater fitnah and harm posed to her modesty, integrity and nikaah in exposing her face to so-called ‘Haaji Bhais’ and even ‘Haaji Bhens’. See the article: The Shocking Fitnah of Intermingling in the Haram]

(Mu’allimul Hujjaaj)