ihram

American  

[ee-rahm] / iˈrɑm /

noun

1. the dress worn by male Muslims on their pilgrimage to Mecca, consisting of two white cotton cloths, one worn round the waist, the other over the left shoulder.

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ihram British  

/ ɪˈrɑːm /

noun

1. the customary white robes worn by Muslim pilgrims to Mecca, symbolizing a sacred or consecrated state

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Etymology

Origin of ihram

First recorded in 1695–1705, ihram is from the Arabic word iḥrām literally, prohibition

Example Sentences

Wearing masks and the ihram, the pilgrim’s seamless white garment, they each threw seven stones at a pillar symbolising Satan, taking them from sealed bags provided by the authorities.

From The Guardian • Jul. 20, 2021

The students dressed in the all-white ihram, the customary, equalizing plain clothing worn by pilgrims, and studied the special prayers we’d all hoped to one day repeat around the real thing.

From Slate • Jul. 27, 2020

The pilgrimage attracts Muslims from all over the world and every walk of life, but once they enter the state of ihram, everyone appears and is treated as an equal.

From Washington Times • Feb. 27, 2020

Muslims are forbidden from engaging in sexual intercourse, cutting their hair or trimming their nails while in ihram.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 18, 2018

After a complete ablution and assuming the ihram, we performed two prayer-flections, and recited the meritorious sentences beginning with the words “Labbaik Allah huma labbaik!”

From Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah — Volume 2 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir