Al-Ihram

Salaam Jean-louis Pag?s and everyone,
To answer your question about Ihram: The word "Ihram" in Arabic refers to
the state of physical and psychological sanctity that a Muslim enters to
perform the holy rites of Hajj or Umrah. It also refers to the clothes worn
for the ritual. Your info is right about the men's clothes being without
seams (I.e. no thread is used to sew the pieces together, not even for
shoes) this is so clothes will be humble and functional without any
pretensions or distinctions among people of various social standards; since
sewing could produce elaborate or decorative clothes, while very little
could be done with two large sheets of cotton to cover the body, everyone
looks alike that way, there is no chance to show off and one is more focused
on the mission of worship and meeting God.

The Ihram garments for men consist of a sheet of cloth over both shoulders,
and a sheet of cloth wrapped around the waist. The Ihram should preferably
be white, although any color is permissible. These two garments may be tied
or pinned, and a belt may be worn to hold up the waist cloth. Ihram for
ladies consists of simple and unpretentious clothes of any color covering
the whole body from head to feet. They may use socks but not gloves and they
are required to keep their hands and faces uncovered.

Etiquette of Ihram:
Before getting into Ihram, it is essential clipping one's nails, trimming
and combing the moustache/ hair/ beard, shaving off the underarm and pubic
hair, and making an ablution by taking a complete bath using unscented soap.
Once one is in a state of Ihram, one is subject to certain obligations and
prohibitions: One should keep body clean, but not shave, cut hair, clip
nails, or use perfume. Men Keep face & head uncovered at all times, they
don't wear sewn clothes of any kind. Ladies keep their faces uncovered but
heads covered. It is not allowed to perform a marriage or enter into
conjugal relations with your spouse, while avoiding suggestive and
provocative talk or gestures. One may not kill an animal of any kind for any
reason unless it poses a danger. It is not allowed to fight, argue, or
engage in trivial conversations, one must remain focused only on Hajj or
Umrah at all times until the end of rituals.

I have made a net search to show you and other interested Shellaweyya some
pictures of the people and the places we're talking about- since all the
sites mentioned are allowed ONLY for Muslims, so this is a good chance for
non-Muslims to get a glimpse of what there is in Makkah & Madinah and the
other Muslim Holy sites. Some of the pictures are a bit old, but they're
good for a general idea. Here what I've found:

Pictures of Ihram clothes and religious sites / Hajj rites in brief
http://re-xs.ucsm.ac.uk/re/pilgrimage/route.htm
http://www.ummah.net/hajj/pics/
http://www.islamicity.org/Mosque/jlthajj/hajj.htm

Updated Pictures of Al Ka'aba (the ancient building in Makkah where Muslims
face for prayers)
http://members.tripod.com/msa_msu/pics-kaaba.htm

3D model of Al Ka'aba
Very interesting site, but the only thing missing is the huge crowd :) you
never see the place that empty 24 X 7 year-round.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/abidhussain/

Satellite images of Makkah & Madinah
http://members.tripod.com/~aashraff/Satelite_Images.htm

History and pictures of the Prophet's Mosque in Al Madinah
(Retractable umbrellas and domes are opened & closed electronically)
http://www.jannah.org/articles/madinah.html

Hope this is useful information for everyone.
Sahar El-Nadi

Dear Jean-louis Pag?s ,
I am NOT an expert so you should NOt take my words for granted. They
come from my understanding of the spirit of Islam.

To answer your question:
There should be NO threads at ALL so the cloths of All ppl are the same;
because we should ALL be equal in front of Allah. No difference between
poor and rich men.
When you see the people in that way, you cannot possibly tell the
difference between the rich and poor. So we ALL feel that we are equal,
and only good deed that make ALL the difference in front of ALLAH.

I hope I made myself clear with my poor english.
Akram Shalaby