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Encyclopedia of Religion entry for
Ihram
In the state of ihram, the pilgrim is forbidden the following actions: connection with or kissing women, covering the face, perfumes, hunting or slaying animals, anointing the head with oil, cutting the beard or shaving the head, coloring the clothes, washing the head or beard with marsh mallows, cutting the nails, plucking a blade of grass, cutting a green tree. But although the pilgrim is not allowed to hunt or slay animals, he may kill the following noxious creatures: a lion, a biting dog, a snake or scorpion, a crew, a kite, and a rat. For each offence against the rules of ihram, special sacrifices are ordained, according to the offence. [HAJJ.] 
Lit. "Prohibiting." The pilgrim ‘s dress, and also the state in which the pilgrim is held to be from the time he assumes this distinctive garb until he lays it aside. It consists of two new white cotton cloths, each six feet long by three and a half broad. One of these sheets, termed rida ‘ is thrown over the back, and, exposing the arm and shoulder, is knotted at the right side in the style called wishah. The other, called izar, is wrapped round the loins from the waist to the knee, and knotted or tucked in at the middle.
citations: Dictionary of Islam, Hughes
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12
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