Is it permissible to wear perfume and to apply hair-gel before entering ihram for hajj and umrah?

- Is it permissible to wear perfume and to apply hair-gel before entering ihram for hajj and umrah?
- It is permissible to do the things that are forbidden when one is in ihram before entering ihram and enter ihram after that?

Dear Brother / Sister,

There is no drawback to wearing perfume before entering ihram; in fact, it is sunnah.

Entering ihram means for a person who intends to perform hajj or umrah to render haram some deeds that are actually halal until hajj or umrah is completed.

Ihram has two parts: intention and talbiyah. Intention (niyyah) means to decide to perform hajj or umrah. It is mustahab to utter niyyah with the tongue. Talbiyah means to say,

“Labbayk, Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la sharika laka labbayk. Innal-hamda wan-ni’mata laka wal-mulk la sharika lak (I respond to Your call, O Allah, I respond to Your call. I respond to Your call, You have no partner. I respond to Your call. Indeed, the praise and grace are yours as well as sovereignty. You have no partner.)”

Before entering ihram, it is sunnah to trim nails, to make ghusl, to wear perfume, to wear a two-piece garment called ihram and to perform a two-rak'ah prayer after wearing ihram. Intention is made after performing the prayer; then, talbiyah is uttered and ihram starts. It is sunnah to utter talbiyah aloud when possible when one is in ihram.

The prohibitions of ihram start with the niyyah and talbiyah. It is haram for a person who is in ihram to cut, pluck or shave the strands of hair on his head and the body, to trim his nails, to wear seamed clothes (for men), to wear perfume, to use oil, paint, and similar make-up to adorn oneself, to cover his head (for men), to cover her face (for women), to wear gloves, socks and shoes that cover the heels, to have sexual intercourse, to hunt and to pick up or cut the plants in the Haram region.

SUNNAHS RELATED TO IHRAM

1. To have a haircut, to shave the hair under the armpits and the pubic hair, to trim nails and to wear perfume.
2. To make ghusl or wudu before entering ihram.
3. To perform a two-rak’ah prayer with the intention of the sunnah of ihram.
4. To be wrapped in a two-piece garment called izar and rida.
5. To utter talbiya when possible in ihram.
6. To utter talbiyah three times.
7. To utter salawat and to pray and supplicate after talbiyah.

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