Wearing Socks in Ihram

Question            Dear scholars, as-salamu `alaykum. I entered ihram for `Umrah and it was cold so I wore socks What should I do?

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Brother, we really do appreciate your question, which shows how interested you are in becoming well acquainted with the rulings related to Hajj. May Allah bless your efforts in the pursuit of knowledge!

It is not permissible for a man who is in ihram to wear socks but it is permissible for a woman. If a man in ihram needs to wear them he has to offer the ransom.

In this regard, the late Sheikh Ibn `Uthaymeen, a prominent Saudi Muslim scholar (may Allah shower mercy on his soul), issued the following fatwa:

It is not permissible for men to wear socks in a state of ihram. However, there is nothing wrong if a woman wears socks. If a man in ihram needs to wear socks because of sickness, it is permissible for him, but he has to offer the ransom, which is either to sacrifice a sheep or to feed six poor persons or to fast for three days. He may do whichever of these three he wants.

ame of Counsellor Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen