Chapter on What is Permissible and Impermissible for the Muhrim to Do and Use of All Types

Muhammad ibn Muslim narrated from Abu Ja'far عليه السلام, who said: "A Muhrim may apply kohl to his eyes if he wishes, provided it is made with sabr (aloe) and does not contain saffron (za'faran) or turmeric (wars)."

Hariz narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "Do not look into a mirror while you are in Ihram, because it is considered a form of adornment (zeenah)."

It was narrated from Mu'awiyah ibn Ammar, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a Muhrim using a miswak (tooth-stick). Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes." I asked: "What if it causes bleeding while using it?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, it is part of the Sunnah."

Hammad narrated from Hariz, from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "There is no harm for a Muhrim to undergo cupping (hijamah), provided he does not shave or pluck hair."

Dharih asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a Muhrim undergoing cupping (hijamah). Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, if he fears harm from the blood."

Al-Hasan al-Sayqal asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a Muhrim whose tooth is causing him pain: "Can he have it extracted?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, there is no harm in it."

Imran al-Halabi narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام that he was asked about a Muhrim who has a wound and uses a medicine containing saffron. Imam عليه السلام said: "If the saffron is the dominant ingredient in the medicine, then no. But if the other ingredients are dominant, there is no harm in it."

Mu'awiyah ibn Ammar asked Imam عليه السلام about a Muhrim squeezing a boil and tying a cloth around it. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in it."

Imam عليه السلام said: "If a Muhrim falls ill, let him seek treatment with what is permissible for him to consume while in the state of Ihram."

Hisham ibn Salim narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "If a Muhrim develops an abscess or a boil, he may lance it and treat it with oil or fat."

Muhammad ibn Muslim narrated from one of the Imams عليه السلام regarding a Muhrim whose hands have cracked. Imam عليه السلام said: "He may anoint them with oil, fat, or melted fat (ihalah)."

Muhammad ibn al-Fudayl narrated from Abu al-Sabbah al-Kinani, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a woman who wished to enter Ihram but feared skin cracking. Could she apply henna beforehand? Imam عليه السلام said: "I do not like for her to do so."

It is reported that Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn عليه السلام used to say to his family when preparing for a journey to Makkah: "Be cautious not to include anything scented, such as perfume or saffron, in our provisions, whether for us to eat or to serve to others."

Imam Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq عليه السلام said: "Four types of fragrances are disliked for a Muhrim: musk, ambergris, saffron, and turmeric. He also disliked fragrant oils with a strong scent."

It was narrated from Al-Hasan ibn Harun, who said: I said to Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: "I ate a sweet dish (khabis) that contained saffron until I was full while I was in Ihram." Imam عليه السلام said: "When you complete your rituals and wish to leave Makkah, buy dates with a dirham and give them in charity. This will be an expiation for that and for anything else that might have affected your Ihram unknowingly."

Zurara narrated from Abu Ja'far عليه السلام, who said: "Whoever intentionally eats saffron or food containing fragrance while in Ihram must offer a blood sacrifice (dam). However, if he does so out of forgetfulness, there is nothing upon him, but he should seek forgiveness from Allah سبحانه وتعالى and repent to Him."

It was narrated from Al-Hasan ibn Ziyad, who said: I said to Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: "My servant poured water for me to perform ablution, and I was unaware that there was fragrance (dustashan) in it. I then washed my hands while I was in Ihram." Imam عليه السلام said: "Give something in charity as an expiation for that."

Ibrahim ibn Sufyan wrote to Abu al-Hasan عليه السلام asking about a Muhrim washing his hands with soapwort (ushnan) that contains idhkhar (a type of fragrant grass). Imam عليه السلام wrote back: "I do not like it for you."

Mu'awiyah ibn Ammar narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: I asked him about a man who touched perfume while in Ihram, out of forgetfulness. Imam عليه السلام said: "He should wash his hands, recite the Talbiyah, and there is nothing upon him." In another narration: "He should seek forgiveness from his Lord عز وجل."

Humran narrated from Abu Ja'far عليه السلام regarding the verse of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted: "Then let them complete their prescribed duties and fulfill their vows" (Surah Al-Hajj 22:29). Imam عليه السلام said: "Tafath refers to a person's grooming, including the use of perfume. Once he has completed his rituals, perfume becomes permissible for him."

Abdullah ibn Sinan asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about henna. Imam عليه السلام said: "A Muhrim may touch it and use it to treat his camel. It is not considered a perfume, and there is no harm in it."

Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm if a Muhrim washes khaluq (a fragrant substance) off his garment."

Al-Halabi and Muhammad ibn Muslim narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "A Muhrim may cover his nose from a pleasant fragrance but should not cover his nose from an unpleasant odor."

Hisham ibn al-Hakam narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "There is no harm in the pleasant fragrances encountered between Safa and Marwah from the perfumers' shops, and he should not cover his nose."

Mu'awiyah ibn Ammar narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "There is no harm in smelling idhkhar (a type of fragrant grass), qaysum (a medicinal herb), khuzama (lavender), shiḥ (wormwood), and similar plants while you are in Ihram." Ali ibn Mahziyar reported: I asked Ibn Abi Umayr about apples, citrons (utruj), lotus fruit (nabq), and other fragrant items. Imam عليه السلام said: "Refrain from smelling or eating them." However, he did not narrate anything specific regarding their permissibility.

It was narrated from Abdullah ibn al-Mughira, who said: I said to Abu al-Hasan the First عليه السلام: "Can I use a shade while I am in Ihram?" Imam عليه السلام said: "No." I asked: "What if I use a shade and offer expiation?" Imam عليه السلام said: "No." I asked: "What if I fall ill?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Use a shade and offer expiation." Then Imam عليه السلام said: "Do you not know that the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace be upon him and his family) said: 'There is no pilgrim who exposes himself to the sun while reciting the Talbiyah until the sun sets except that his sins disappear with the setting of the sun.'"

It was narrated from Al-Husayn ibn Muslim, who said: I asked Abu Ja'far the Second عليه السلام: "What is the difference between a tent (fusṭāṭ) and the shade of a litter (maḥmil)?" Imam عليه السلام said: "One should not seek shade in the maḥmil. The difference between them is like the case of a woman who menstruates during Month of Ramadan; she makes up the fasts but does not make up the prayers." I replied: "You have spoken the truth, may I be your ransom."

Ali ibn Mahziyar narrated from Bakr ibn Salih, who said: I wrote to Abu Ja'far the Second عليه السلام, saying: "My aunt is with me, and she is my travel companion. She suffers greatly from the heat when she is in Ihram. Do you permit me to use shade for both of us?" Imam عليه السلام wrote back: "Shade her alone."

Al-Bazanti narrated from Ali ibn Abi Hamzah, from Abu Basir, who said: I asked Imam عليه السلام about a woman placing a shade over herself while she is in Ihram. Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes." I asked: "What about a man placing a shade over himself while in Ihram?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, if he is afflicted with severe pain (shaqiqah), and he should give charity of a mudd for each day."

Muhammad ibn Isma'il ibn Bazi' narrated that Abu al-Hasan عليه السلام was asked—while I was listening—about a person in the state of ihram seeking shade due to harm from rain or the sun, or, he said, due to illness. Imam عليه السلام commanded that a sheep should be sacrificed in Mina and said: "When we want to do this, we seek shade and offer the expiation."

In the narration of Hariz, Abu Abdullah عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in a tent being set up over women and children while they are in the state of ihram. However, the person in ihram must not immerse themselves in water, nor should someone who is fasting."

It is narrated from Mansur ibn Hazim who said: "I saw Abu Abdullah عليه السلام perform ablution while he was in the state of ihram, and then he took a towel and wiped his face with it."

It is narrated by Mu'awiyah ibn Ammar from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "It is disliked for the person in ihram to cover their nose with their garment. However, there is no harm if the person in ihram extends their garment until it reaches their nose."

Hafs ibn al-Bakhtari and Hisham ibn al-Hakam narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام that he said: "It is disliked for the person in ihram to let their garment cover their nose from below." Imam عليه السلام also said, "Show openness to the One for whom you have entered the state of ihram."

It is narrated from Abdullah ibn Sinan who said: "I heard Abu Abdullah عليه السلام say to my father, who complained to him about the heat of the sun while he was in the state of ihram and was troubled by it. He asked, 'Do you think it is permissible for me to cover myself with the edge of my garment?' Imam عليه السلام said: 'There is no harm in that as long as it does not touch your head.'"

Saeed al-A'raj asked him about a person in the state of ihram seeking shade from the sun using a stick or their hand. Imam عليه السلام said: "No, except in the case of an illness."

Al-Halabi asked him about a person in the state of ihram who covers their head unintentionally or while sleeping. Imam عليه السلام said: "They should recite the Talbiyah when they remember."

In the narration of Hariz: "They should remove the covering, recite the Talbiyah, and there is nothing upon them (no penalty).

He was asked about a person in the state of ihram sleeping on their face while on their mount. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in that."

Zurara asked Abu Ja'far عليه السلام about a person in the state of ihram who has flies landing on their face, preventing them from sleeping, and whether they may cover their face when they wish to sleep. Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes."

Zurara narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: "A woman in the state of ihram should let her garment hang down to her chest."

Al-Hasan ibn Mahbub narrated from Ali ibn Ri'ab, from Abu Basir, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a man in the state of ihram who trimmed one of his nails. Imam عليه السلام said: "He must give a mudd of food as expiation. If he trims ten nails, he must sacrifice a sheep." I asked: "What if he trims the nails of both his hands and feet?" Imam عليه السلام said: "If he does this in one sitting, he must offer one sacrifice. If he does it in two separate sittings, he must offer two sacrifices."

In the narration of Zurara from Abu Ja'far عليه السلام: "Whoever does that (trims nails) out of forgetfulness, inattentiveness, or ignorance, there is nothing upon them (no penalty)."

Mu'awiyah ibn Ammar asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a person in the state of ihram whose nails grow long or some of them break and cause harm. Imam عليه السلام said: "They should not cut any of them if they can avoid it. But if they cause harm, they may trim them, and for each nail, they must give a handful of food as expiation."

Ishaq ibn Ammar asked Abu Ibrahim عليه السلام about a man who forgot to trim his nails before entering the state of ihram until he had already entered it. Imam عليه السلام said: "He should leave them as they are." I said: "One of our companions advised him to trim his nails and renew his ihram, so he did." Imam عليه السلام said: "He must offer a sacrifice (as expiation)."

Hariz narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "If a man plucks his underarm hair after entering the state of ihram, he must offer a sacrifice (as expiation)."

In another narration: "Whoever shaves their head or plucks their underarm hair out of forgetfulness, inattentiveness, or ignorance, there is nothing upon them (no penalty)."

Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm if a person in the state of ihram enters the bathhouse, but they should not scrub themselves."

Imam عليه السلام said: "A person in the state of ihram should not cut the hair of one who is not in the state of ihram."

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) passed by Ka'b ibn Ujrah al-Ansari while he was in the state of ihram, and lice had afflicted his head, eyebrows, and eyes. The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: "I did not think the matter would reach the state that I now see." He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم then commanded him to perform an expiation on his behalf, and Ka'b shaved his head, following the words of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted: "But if any of you is ill or has an ailment in his head, [making shaving necessary], then [his ransom is] fasting, or charity, or sacrifice" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:196). The expiation is: - Fasting for three days. - Giving charity to six needy individuals, with each person receiving a measure (sa') of dates—or, as narrated in another report, a mudd of dates. Sacrificing a sheep, which must only be given to the needy and not eaten by anyone else.

Abdullah ibn Sinan asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام: "What do you say if I find a tick or a louse on me while I am in the state of ihram? Should I remove it?" Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, even the small ones of these, as they have ascended to a place where they do not belong."

Mu'awiyah ibn Ammar asked him about a person in the state of ihram who scratches their head, causing one or two lice to fall off. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no penalty upon them, nor do they need to replace the lice." He asked: "How should the person in ihram scratch?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "With their nails, as long as they do not cause bleeding or cut any hair."

He was asked about a person in the state of ihram who fiddles with their beard, causing one or two hairs to fall out. Imam عليه السلام said: "They must give some food as expiation."

In another narration: "A mudd of food or two handfuls." It is preferable that the person in the state of ihram does not scratch their head except gently, using the tips of their fingers.

In the narration of Hisham ibn Salim, Abu Abdullah عليه السلام said: "If one of you places their hand on their head or beard while in the state of ihram and some hair falls out, they should give in charity a handful of biscuits or barley flour."

Aban narrated from Abu al-Jarud, who said: A man asked Abu Ja'far عليه السلام about a person in the state of ihram who killed a louse. Imam عليه السلام said: "What a bad thing he has done." The man asked: "What is its expiation?" Imam عليه السلام replied: "There is no expiation for it."

Mu'awiyah ibn Ammar narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "A person in the state of ihram should remove all insects from themselves, except for lice, as they are from their body. However, if they wish to move a louse from one place to another, it does not harm them."

Aban narrated from Zurara, who said: I asked him about a person in the state of ihram—can they scratch their head or wash it with water? Imam عليه السلام said: "They may scratch their head as long as they do not intentionally kill an insect, and there is no harm in washing with water or pouring it over their head, as long as their head is not treated with a binding substance (muddied). If their head is treated with such a substance, they should not pour water over it unless it is due to a state of ritual impurity (from a wet dream)."

Ya'qub ibn Shu'ayb asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a person in the state of ihram taking a bath. Imam عليه السلام said: "Yes, they may pour water over their head, but they should not scrub it."

In the narration of Hariz from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, Imam عليه السلام said: "When a person in the state of ihram performs ghusl (ritual bath) for janabah (major ritual impurity), they should pour water over their head and separate their hair with their fingers, parting it gently."

Imam عليه السلام said regarding a person in the state of ihram attending the marriage of those not in ihram: "They should not witness it." Then Imam عليه السلام said: "It is permissible for a person in the state of ihram to point out game to someone not in ihram."

Abdullah ibn Sinan narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "A person in the state of ihram is not allowed to marry or to officiate the marriage of someone who is not in ihram. If they marry or officiate a marriage, the marriage is invalid."

A man from the Ansar married while he was in the state of ihram, and the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) invalidated his marriage.

Imam عليه السلام said: "Whoever marries a woman while in the state of ihram, they shall be separated, and she will never be permissible for him."

In the narration of Sama'ah: "She is entitled to the dowry if he had consummated the marriage with her."

In the narration of Asim ibn Humayd from Abu Basir, he said: I heard Imam Abu Abdullah عليه السلام say: "A person in the state of ihram may pronounce divorce but may not marry."

Saeed al-A'raj asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a man who helps a woman down from her mount and holds her close while in the state of ihram. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in it unless he does so intentionally [with inappropriate intent], and he has more right to help her down than others."

It is narrated from Muhammad al-Halabi, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a man in the state of ihram looking at his wife while she is also in the state of ihram. Imam عليه السلام said: "There is no harm in it."

It is narrated from Khalid, the seller of caps, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah عليه السلام about a man who had intercourse with his wife before completing the Tawaf al-Nisa. Imam عليه السلام said: "He must offer a camel (as expiation)." Then another person came and asked him about the same situation. Imam عليه السلام said: "He must offer a cow." Then another person came and asked him. Imam عليه السلام said: "He must offer a sheep." I said to him after they had left: "May Allah سبحانه وتعالى set you right, how is it that you said a camel for one, a cow for another, and a sheep for the last?" Imam عليه السلام said: "For the wealthy, it is a camel; for one of moderate means, it is a cow; and for the poor, it is a sheep."

Imam عليه السلام said: "Game should not be slaughtered in the Sacred Sanctuary (Haram), even if it was hunted outside the sanctuary."

Hanan ibn Sadir narrated from Abu Ja'far عليه السلام that he said: "The Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) commanded the killing of a mouse in the Sacred Sanctuary, as well as a snake, a scorpion, and a pied crow. If you strike it, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى distance it [from His mercy]." He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم used to call the mouse "al-Fuwaysiqah" (the little corrupt one) and said: "It weakens water-skins and sets houses on fire for their inhabitants."

Mu'awiyah ibn Ammar narrated from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, who said: "If a person in the state of ihram removes ticks from their camel, there is no harm in that, but they should not remove lice."

In the narration of Hariz from Abu Abdullah عليه السلام, he said: "Ticks are not considered part of the camel, but lice are considered part of the camel."

In the narration of Ali ibn Abi Hamzah from Abu Basir, he said: I asked him about a person in the state of ihram removing lice from a camel. Imam عليه السلام said: "No, it is like the lice from your own body."

Muhammad ibn al-Fudhayl narrated from Abu al-Hasan عليه السلام, who said: I asked him about what a person in the state of ihram is permitted to kill from among the creatures. Imam عليه السلام said: "They may kill black snakes, vipers, mice, scorpions, and any snake. If a predatory animal attacks you, kill it; but if it does not attack, do not kill it. As for a rabid dog, if it attacks you, kill it. There is no harm for a person in ihram to throw stones at a kite. If robbers confront them, they may defend themselves."