Is it permissible for a woman in ihram to wear medical gloves in the case of necessity only? And also to use wet wipes for an infant when changing him? How can she exit ihram when she has layered hair, including bangs (a fringe) at the front?
Praise
be to Allah
Firstly:
When a woman enters ihram it is not permissible for her to
work gloves or niqab, so the woman who is in ihram for Hajj or ‘umrah does
not wear a niqab or gloves until she has completed her ‘umrah or completed
the first stage of exiting ihram.
But if she is forced to wear something that it is prohibited
for her to wear when she is in ihram, for a legitimate need such as being
cold, being sick and so on, it is permissible for her to do that, but she
must offer expiation. That includes wearing medical gloves when there is a
reason to do so, such as if the woman who is in ihram needs to put them on
in order to tend to someone who is sick or injured. So that is permissible
for her, but she must offer compensation.
Shaykh Zakariya al-Ansaari (may Allah have mercy on him) said
in Asna’l-Mataalib (1/507):
If a person wears, when in ihram, something that it is
prohibited for him to wear at that time, or he covers part of the body that
it is prohibited for him to cover, because of a need due to heat, cold,
medical treatment and the like, that is permissible but he must offer
compensation. End quote.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
If a person does actions that are prohibited when in ihram,
it must be one of three cases:
1.
He is doing that prohibited action with no need and no
excuse for doing so. In this case he is sinning and must offer compensation.
2.
He is doing it because of a need to do so, so he is not
sinning, but he must offer compensation. So if he needs to cover his head
because it is too cold or too hot and he fears harm as a result, it is
permissible for him to cover his head, but he must offer compensation.
3.
He is doing it and is excused because he is ignorant of
the ruling, or he forgot, or he was compelled, or he fell asleep. In this
case there is no sin on him and he does not have to offer compensation.
End quote from Majmoo‘ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il al-‘Uthaymeen
(24/433-434)
The compensation he must offer is fasting three days, or
feeding six poor persons, giving each poor person half a saa‘ of food, or
sacrificing a sheep. The pilgrim in ihram may choose any one of these three
options.
Secondly:
There is nothing wrong with a woman using wet wipes when
changing an infant, unless they are dampened with any kind of perfumed
substance, in which case that is not permissible because it will get onto
her hands, and the pilgrim who is in ihram for Hajj or ‘Umrah is prohibited
from using perfume.
Thirdly:
When cutting the hair following Hajj or ‘Umrah, hair should
be cut from all over the head. If it is too difficult for a woman to remove
hair from all over the head, such as if the hair is layered, then she should
cut from the ends of the longest layer, and also from the bangs at the front
if possible. If that is not possible or it is too difficult for her, then we
hope that cutting from the longest layer will be sufficient.
For further clarification, please see the answer to question
no. (172046)
And Allah knows best.
