Prohibited (Haram) Acts During Ihram

01. Hunting: Remember that hunting within the sacred area around and in Makkah, known as the Haram, is always forbidden. It is not confined to Ihraam. When in Ihraam, hunting anywhere else is also forbidden. You are allowed to kill scorpions, pythons, poisonous snakes and rats. If one is attacked by a wild animal it is allowed to kill it. You are allowed to fishing or slaughter domestic fowls such as goats, sheep, camels, etc.

The kaffara (expiation) for killing an ostrich is a camel, a wild cow a cow, a deer or rabbit a sheep. There is expiation of a sheep also for killing a fox as a matter of precaution (Ihtiyat).

02. Sexual intercourse: Sexual intercourse, or any acts of courtship, which would arouse sexual desire, is forbidden. Even lustful glance at ones own wife or husband or any other lady or man who is Na-Mahram is forbidden. The expiation is one camel or a cow or a sheep in that order of affordability.

03. Masturbation: To masturbate in any form, this includes all methods of self-abuse. It has the same precept as sexual intercourse. If it is done in the state of Ihraam for Hajj-e-Tamattu before staying in Mashar (Muz-dalifa), the Hajj becomes null and void. All the required rituals must be completed and the Hajj must be repeated the following year. But if it is because of looking at or imagining a woman, although the expiation is as stated above, the Hajj or Umrah remains valid, but observing precaution is better, i.e. it is Ihtiyat to repeat the Hajj the following year.

04. Kissing: Kissing one's wife or any other woman with lust and semen is discharged; the expiation is one camel that has completed 5 years. If it is done without lust the expiation is one sheep.

05. Touching: Touching one's wife or any other woman with lust, the expiation is one sheep. If it is without lust then there is no expiation.

06. Romancing: Romancing with one's wife or any other woman as a result of which if semen is discharged the expiation is one camel that has completed five years. Likewise, for looking at a strange woman with or without lust as a result of which semen is discharged the expiation is a camel that has completed five years, if he is rich, a cow if he is middle class, a sheep if he is poor.

07. Marriage contract (Nikah): To read Nikah for himself or for others regardless of whether the other person is in Ihraam or not. This applies to Muta'a as well. While in all cases the Nikah is batil, the expiation is Ihtiyatan (precautionary) one sheep. To become witness to somebody's Nikah is also forbidden.

08. Un-desired smell or odor: To close ones nose or nostrils from bad smell or odor is not allowed. The expiation of doing so is one sheep. However, there is no objection if one hastily passes away from the unpleasant odor.

09. Perfumes: To use perfume or apply it on ones clothes. Perfumes like Saffron, Camphor, Cloves, Cardamom, Amber and all their uses are forbidden. Eating and drinking sweet smelling food or fruits like apples etc. is allowed but it is essential to avoid smelling when eating or drinking them. As a result of such willful action an expiation of one sheep becomes due. There is no objection to smelling natural sweet smell coming from the Kaaba.

10. Sewn clothes: It is Haram for men to wear sewn or stitched clothes in Ihraam. Their clothes must not have sleeves or seams. However, belts with sewn pockets for keeping money, traveler's cheques, passports and other valuables, slung around the shoulders or worn around the waist are allowed. Similarly, Hernia belts can be worn. One is not allowed to fasten the Ihraam with pins or a needle or anything of that sort. You cannot even tie a knot. There is no objection to covering the body, except the head with any cloth while sleeping. Ladies are allowed to wear all types of sewn clothes during Ihraam, except for the hand gloves and wear a veil. The expiation for violation of this rule is one sheep.

11. Surma: To apply black surma (eyeliner) in the eyes for cosmetic purposes are strictly forbidden for men and women. If it is neither black nor for any cosmetic or beautifying purposes, then it is allowed. The expiation of violation is one sheep.

12. Make up/Ornament: All methods of self-beautification, either by use of cosmetics or by ornaments is forbidden. A ring worn for the Niyyat of thawab, like a Firoza or Aqeeq or Dhoor-e-Najaf is permissible. Ladies must also refrain from wearing ornaments, except those they usually wear. But even these must not be displayed to men, even to the husband. This violation costs one sheep in expiation.

NOTE: If a person is wearing a golden tooth for beauty only, it should be removed if possible.

13. Henna: To apply henna (Indian Myrtle) is Haraam during Ihraam. It should not be applied even before Hajj, if the color will remain when wearing Ihraam. The expiation for the violation is Ihtiyatan (precautionary) one sheep.

14. Mirror: To look into a mirror for cosmetic reason, which means to appreciate ones looks and features, including combing hair etc., are forbidden. The expiation of this violation is one sheep. If a driver wearing Ihraam has to refer to the mirrors of his car or bus as he drives, there is no objection. Spectacle glasses are allowed provided they are not worn for fashion or beautification, though this should be avoided if possible.

15. Lying and abusing: To tell lies or abuse and scorn is always forbidden but when in Ihraam it becomes all the more undesirable and Haraam. Similarly, it is Haraam to boast or brag about ones own superiority or excellence, with an intention to belittle or under estimate the others.

Note: This means one has to be very careful not to use abusive, foul or obscene language in ordinary conversation. If this is done the expiation is one cow for violation of this rule.

16. Swearing: To take an oath or to swear in any form, particularly saying LaWallah, Balaa Wallah (no, by God or yes, by God) is Haraam. The expiation is Istegfaar, (repentance) for the first and second time, and a sheep for the third time.

The following cases are exceptional.
a) That it is intended to prove thereby some right or to make the wrong public to others.
b) That is not meant to swear thereby, but is merely expressing respect and love.
There is no expiation for a right swearing, provided, it is not more than twice, and otherwise, the expiation is one sheep. If it is a wrong swearing, the expiation is one sheep for the first time, for the second time two sheep and a cow for the third time.

17. Shoes and socks: It is forbidden for men to cover the upper part of the feet from the toes to the ankle. So, men must not wear socks or full shoes. Women can wear them, (although); it is better for women to avoid wearing socks. The expiation for men violating of this rule is one sheep.

18. Killing insects: It is forbidden to kill insects or even throwing them down or brush-off an insect originating from one's own body e.g. parasites, lice, bugs, fleece, etc. There is no harm to transfer them from one place to another and the expiation for this rule being violated is to give a handful of food to the poor.

19. Pulling out of a tooth: To have your tooth extracted even if there is no bleeding due to it. The expiation for violating this rule is one sheep. (Marhum Ayatoullah Abul Qassim El Khui did not lay emphasis on this. He said this is permitted).

20. Blood: To take out blood from ones own body, or to cause any bleeding by scratching or brushing the teeth etc. is Haraam. However, if this becomes in evitable for relief from any distress, it is allowed. The expiation for ignoring this rule is one sheep. Note: One should use salt to brush teeth rather than scented toothpaste.

21. Covering of the face: In the state of Ihraam, women are not allowed to cover their faces with a mask or veil, not even partly, though they must cover their faces from Na-Mahram by hanging their head-covering over their faces down to the nose or chin without touching the face. While saying her Salaat/Namaz, they may cover part of their forehead etc., in an effort to cover her head and hair fully, but after Salaat/Namaz, she has to see that her face is not covered even partially. She must also refrain from immersing her head in water. Men are not allowed to cover their face at all; their ears must also be visible. Men must not carry any baggage on their heads (fearing their head may be covered), nor dip themselves in water. However, a handkerchief or strip of cloth tied on the forehead for relief from a headache is allowed. The expiation for this violation is one sheep.

NOTE: When sleeping if the face is covered unintentionally, there is no objection but the cover must be removed immediately, if it is realized.

22. Ointment: It is forbidden to apply any kind of ointment to the body, whether it has a sweet smell or not. If however, it becomes necessary for medical reasons it is allowed. The expiation for this violation is one sheep.

23. Removing Hairs: To remove or pluck hair from ones own body, or from another's body, regardless of whether the other fellow is in Ihraam or not. The expiation for this is a handful of grain to poor. There are four exceptions to this.

i) If hair falls itself, while doing Wudhu or Ghusl, there is no objection.
ii) If one's hair has grown to his/her eyelid and is causing distress and agony, one may remove it.
iii) If the removal of hair becomes inevitable for any good reason and valid reason. But if due to the hair, there are too many lice on the body, and it becomes necessary to remove the hair so as to be relieved of the parasite.
iv) You are allowed to stroke your hair or beard or slowly scratch your body, if you know that by doing so, no hair would fall, and no bleeding would be caused.

24. Travel/Shade: Men are not permitted to travel under any kind of shade or shadow, be it the hood of a car, an umbrella or walking in the shadow of a car, bus, caravan or aircraft. All traveling must be under the open sky. Shades are permitted at the time of resting or taking a respite on the way. You can ward off sunrays by cupping one hand. The meaning of refraining from shade or shadow is that men must not protect themselves from sunrays, cold, heat or rain. So it is not only the head, which must not go into shade, it is the whole body. Once you are in Makkah, you are allowed to go under shade or shadow, even before you have found your accommodation or place of abode. Women, children and such men who fear that exposure would disable them or render them very sick, are exempted. But for such men, the expiation (kaffara) will have to be given in spite of the valid excuse they may have. The expiation for this violation is one sheep.

According to Ayatoullah Syed Seestani, he allows men to travel in closed bus during the night. Men may follow his rulings if they are doing his Taqleed.

25. Cutting of nails: Cutting of nails either whole or partly is not allowed unless the nail is causing pain. The expiation (kaffara) for each fingernail being cut is a handful of food/grain to the poor. If all nails of the hands are cut in the same place, the expiation (kaffara) will be one sheep. The same is true of feet. If the nails of both the hands and feet are cut in the same place, the expiation will be one sheep. If one cuts the nails of his hand in one place and the feet in another place the expiation will be two sheep.

26. Carrying of weapons: One is not allowed to carry any weapons such as swords, spears, guns, etc., unless it is absolutely necessary. There is no harm in carrying a knife, etc., for cutting fruits, etc. The expiation for violating this rule is one sheep.

27. Uprooting trees: To uproot, pluck or cut the grass, leaves of the trees and all that grows from the earth in Makkah and around it, is not allowed. This is forbidden during Ihraam and also without Ihraam.

28. There are certain acts, as detailed below, which are prohibited all the time whether one is in Ihraam or not;
a) Hunting.
b) Uprooting or cutting whatever grows in Haram. But there is no objection if a plant is uprooted unintentionally when passing by Haram, except
(I) Palm or fruit bearing trees.
(II) The grass that is usually fed to the animals.
The expiation for uprooting, or cutting a tree is the cost of the tree but there is no expiation for grass.

NOTE: All the expiation can be paid in Makkah or at home, except the expiation of hunting which must be paid in Makkah.