Question for Keyplus

[naomi24]

I know that men who have been to Mecca are entitled to wear a little white hat, but watching a documentary tonight, my husband asked me if women get any special recognition for having been to Mecca, and I had to say I don't know. Do they?

[Octavius]

Do you mean the taqiyah or kufi?

I didn't think attending Hajj was a prerequisite for entitlement to wearing one, I thought anyone good? It used to be that Hajjis were entiteled to wear a green turban, but I think that is outdated now.

In some parts of the world, special Ahrams for Male Hajjis and Abayas for female Hajjis are sometimes gifted.

[Octavius]

Forgive the typo�s, it is Monday after all.

[keyplus90]

There is nothing in Islam that once you been to Mecca only then you wear hat. Muslims are supposed to cover their head as a Sunnah (because Muhammad pbuh) did it. Although it is not compulsory but is regarded better. It has nothing to do with Haj. I do not think that there is anything that you are supposed to do differently one way or another once you been to Mecca.

It is just personal choice that few people when they been for Haj, think that now they have to act more Islamic.

In short Islam teaches you for all your life and not for just special occasions apart from Ahram (two white sheets) which you wear for Haj or for Umra. And that is to symbolize that there is no difference between a king or a beggar there as all wear the same. In fact when you go for Haj or Umra you can not really tell who is standing next to you.

[keyplus90]

Forgot one thing. Yes the only thing which Haji (the one who has been for Haj) gets is a title and they say in front of their name Haji for man and Hajin for woman. And this is in Urdu language, I am sure it is Haji in Arabic as well but not sure for woman if it is same as Hajin. And even that is not compulsory and is only as respect that this person has been to Haj. I will give you example of my own father. His name is Muhammad Sharif and since Haj in 1989, people call him Haji Muhammad Sharif. But then again, you do not have to.

[Booldawg]

Yes, the woman get to wear a t-shirt with the slogan ''My husband went to Mecca and all I got was this lousy t-shirt'

[naomi24]

When I was in Jerusalem recently, a Palestinian told me that all the men wearing little white crochet caps had been on pilgrimage to Mecca. Men who haven't been wear other colours. I understood that the white cap is some sort of badge of honour denoting their pilgrimage. Perhaps it's something that only Palestinians recognise. Thanks for your answer anyway.

[keyplus90]

Could be, otherwise as many countries I have been to people just wear caps, white, green, black, almost any colour and no reference to Haj. It is possible that its Palestinian traditions otherwise nothing in the religion about that.

[Octavius]

Yes, I think in Palestinian culture (for men at least) that various types of headwear reflect stages of adult maturity, so it is quite possible that they have something reserved for those who have done the pilgrimage to Mecca.

[keyplus90]

One more thing to notice is that Haj is one pillar of Islam that is compulsory only if you have sources. If you can do it financial, physically etc. If someone can not afford the Haj is not compulsory for that person. So if there was anything like being entitled to use something on the basis of this then surely the one who can not fulfil due to the lack of resources would feel bad, disappointed. So there is nothing symbolic about it.

[terambulan]

Women have their hair dyed ginger..........and it looks terrible

[naomi24]

Yes, I know it's not compulsory, Keyplus. I think the little white hat must be something traditionally Palestinian for those who have been on pilgramage to Mecca.

Thanks for all your answers.

[R1Geezer]

I don't see how bingo comes into this!

[Octavius]

Well the Catholics go to Gala, its only fair.

[beso]

Who cares. Anything they wear is a badge of stupidity.