Ihram
Ihram clothing includes men's and women’s garments worn by Muslim pilgrims during the annual Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca. The men’s garments consist of two unhemmed towelling sheets and are universal in appearance. The women’s clothing, however, varies considerably and reflects regional as well as religious influences. The clothing is intended to make everyone appear the same, as in the eyes of God. There are also certain behaviors that are expected and forbidden once the ihram is donned. Although it is simply be an item of clothing to be worn during the pilgrimage, there are many competing views on the proper wearing of the ihram. For example, the exact number of days a pilgram is required to wear the ihram varies according to the type of pilgrimage (Hajj) the individual is performing. External Site The Five Pillars of Islam, Hajj (Pilgrimage), The Fifth Pillar of Islam, Holy Sites/Mistakes of Pilgrims - An excellent article on the many different beliefs surrounding the wearing of the ihram by Sheikh Dr. Ghanim Saleh Al-Sadlan, professor of Higher Islamic Studies at the Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, in Riyadh.
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