07/06/2026
A Reflective Reminder
Hajj guides and organizers should make it clear to pilgrims that the ghutra (headscarf) and agal (headband) are not part of the rites of Hajj, nor are they requirements for completing it. They are traditional garments that became widely associated with the Arabian Gulf and were known both before and after the advent of Islam.
A pilgrim does not need to wear a ghutra or agal for their Hajj to be valid or complete. Likewise, upon returning home, there is no religious obligation to continue wearing the white thobe or Gulf-style attire as though it were an essential part of the faith.
One of the surprising sights is seeing some women wearing the agal on their heads, even though it is neither a ritual of Hajj nor a Sunnah, and it is not even a traditional custom for women among Arabs.
Hajj is an act of worship founded upon piety, sincerity, and adherence to the prescribed rites, not upon adopting different styles of dress or cultural customs. Therefore, people should feel free to return to wearing the customary clothing of their own countries and preserve their cultural identity, provided it remains within the boundaries of Islamic teachings.
True Hajj is reflected in devotion, character, and obedience to Allah not in a particular style of clothing.
