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Fatwa CenterWhether to make Ghusl for Ihram at home or at Meeqat
Question
How should a woman assume Ihram (ritual state of consecration) from the Meeqat (place at one which assumes Ihram)? Is it due on her to make Ghusl (ritual bath) there or at home?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
There is no difference between the man and the woman as to how they should assume Ihram or the necessity of doing it at the Meeqat. They do, however, differ in the permissibility of putting on form-fitting clothes, which is forbidden to men and permissible for women. A woman also differs from a man concerning the prohibition of covering the face, according to some scholars. In the sight of Shaafi‘i and Hanbali scholars, it is permissible for a man to cover his face whereas it is impermissible for a woman to do so except to screen herself from a man who is non-Mahram (permanently unmarriageable kin) to her.
If one intending to assume Ihram arrives at the Meeqat, then it is an act of the Sunnah for them to clean themselves and make Ghusl and then assume Ihram for Hajj or ‘Umrah. As for doing Ghusl before assuming Ihram, we have previously clarified that it is an act of the Sunnah to do Ghusl and then assume Ihram almost simultaneously. Being so, by making Ghusl at home and assuming Ihram at the Meeqat, the Sunnah will not take place for the traveler at sea or land due to the long time separating between the two acts. However, it is permissible for the traveler by air to do so if he travels just after making Ghusl since there is not a long break between making Ghusl and assuming Ihram in such case.
Anyway, it should be brought to mind that making Ghusl for Ihram is an act of the Sunnah and not an obligation.
Allaah Knows best.
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