What Are Tawaf Socks, and Can They Be Worn in Ihram? A Guide to Ihram Socks, Slippers and Sandals

Tawaf socks are light indoor footwear with a thin, non-slip sole, worn to protect the feet on the marble floor of Masjid al-Haram during tawaf and sa’y. The most frequently asked question is this: can tawaf socks be worn in ihram? The short answer is yes for women and no for men in ihram. In this article, we explain what tawaf socks are, the difference between ihram socks, ihram slippers and sandals, and who can wear which and when, on the basis of the fatwas of Türkiye’s High Council of Religious Affairs (Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu) and the TDV Encyclopaedia of Islam (TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi). The information on material, size and sole is taken from the product descriptions in our shop.

What Are Tawaf Socks?

Shoes are not worn inside Masjid al-Haram; they are taken off at the door and put in a bag. A long distance is walked during tawaf and sa’y, the marble floor can be damp from time to time because of the intensive cleaning, and it can feel cold in the air-conditioned areas. Tawaf socks were born of this need: footwear worn instead of going barefoot, with a thin and flexible sole, which folds up and fits into a pocket or a shoe bag.

The names “ihram socks”, “tawaf khuffs” (tavaf mesti) or “Umrah socks” are also used for the same product. Whatever the name, what is decisive is the shape: tawaf socks cover the top of the foot and the heel. The ruling on ihram comes into play at exactly this point.

Can Tawaf Socks Be Worn in Ihram?

The answer changes according to whether the wearer is a man or a woman.

The ruling for men

According to the High Council of Religious Affairs, the heels and the ankle bones of a man in ihram must be uncovered, and the upper part of his feet must not be fully covered either. For this reason, open-backed slippers or similar footwear that does not completely cover the top of the foot are worn. The “Ihram” entry of the TDV Encyclopaedia of Islam also states that it is forbidden for a man in ihram to wear socks and to wear closed shoes that cover the heels or the top of the foot, whereas slippers that leave the feet largely uncovered may be worn even if they are stitched.

As tawaf socks wrap the foot completely, they do not meet this measure; a man in ihram does not wear them. According to the same fatwa, a man in ihram who wears shoes although suitable slippers can be found has committed an ihram violation: if he has worn them for less than a day or a night, charity (sadaqah) is required; if he has worn them for a whole day or a whole night, a dam is required. The Council also states that, for a person in ihram who wears compression stockings because of a medical excuse, the stockings count as clothing and the excuse does not remove the penalty.

Men can wear tawaf socks after leaving ihram: in the voluntary tawafs after completing the Umrah and shaving, when visiting Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah, and at the hotel. We explained when ihram ends in our article on shaving in Umrah.

The ruling for women

According to the High Council of Religious Affairs, there is no special garment that women must put on after entering ihram; it is sufficient for them to keep their faces uncovered. The TDV Encyclopaedia of Islam also records that women may use every kind of clothing in ihram, on condition that they do not cover their faces. Therefore women can wear tawaf socks, ordinary socks and closed shoes throughout Umrah and Hajj, in ihram as well. You can find the other matters concerning women’s ihram in our Umrah guide for women.

What Should Ihram Slippers and Sandals Be Like?

The measure for the slippers or sandals that a man in ihram will wear comes down to three points: the heel uncovered, the ankle bones uncovered, the top of the foot not fully covered. For many years, the question “can slippers with a back strap be worn?” was a matter of hesitation. In its fatwa dated 2025, the High Council of Religious Affairs stated that, like sandals that do not completely cover the top of the foot, slippers with a back strap may also be worn.

As the shape of the foot differs from person to person, whichever model you buy, we recommend that you check in the mirror after putting it on: your heel and the middle of your instep should remain uncovered. If you are in doubt, you can consult the religious officer of your group or Diyanet’s fatwa line. The details on how the ihram garment is worn and on the belt are in our article on how to wear ihram.

Tawaf Socks, Ordinary Socks, Slippers and Sandals: Which Suits Whom?

The table below has been compiled from the product descriptions of the models in our shop. For current price and stock information, you can look at the product pages.

On the question of which model may be worn in ihram, the measure is the fatwa we quoted above: according to the High Council of Religious Affairs, the heels and ankle bones of a man in ihram must be uncovered, and the upper part of his feet must not be fully covered either; slippers that, like sandals, do not fully cover the top of the feet and that have a back strap may be worn. As for women, there is no special garment that they must put on after entering ihram; it is sufficient for them to keep their faces uncovered. The “how it covers the foot” column in the table is taken from the product descriptions and does not state a ruling; for your own situation and the model you choose, consult the religious officer of your group.

All of the models and the size chart are on our tawaf socks, slippers and sandals page.

How to Choose Tawaf Socks

Sole

On a marble floor, the most important feature is grip. In fabric-soled tawaf socks silicone dots do this job, and in thick-soled ones rubber dots. Even so, no sole prevents slipping completely on a wet floor; in areas that are being cleaned, the steps need to be shortened.

Material

Mesh-knit tawaf socks are light, breathable and quick to dry. Tawaf socks with a memory foam insole offer a softer tread on long walks; they are more comfortable for those with sensitive soles and for elderly guests. Leather tawaf socks keep their shape, are cleaned by wiping and are also used at home after the return; they are not machine-washed.

Size

Fabric tawaf socks are sold by letter size (S, M, L, XL), and leather ones by full shoe size. If you are between two sizes, choosing the larger one gives a more comfortable fit. Take into account, too, that in a hot climate the feet can swell slightly during the day.

How many pairs?

For a one-week Umrah programme, two pairs of tawaf socks are practical; while the pair you washed in the evening is drying, you have a clean spare for the next day.

How Are Tawaf Socks Used?

1. Try them at the hotel Break the tawaf socks in by wearing them for a few hours at the hotel, not for the first time in the Haram.
2. Change at the door At the door of the Haram, take off your shoes and put them in the bag, and go inside wearing the tawaf socks.
3. Do not wear them outside Asphalt and hot pavement quickly wear out the thin sole; use slippers or sandals between the hotel and the Haram.
4. Slow down on wet floors Walk with short steps in the ablution areas and in sections that are being cleaned.
5. Wash in the evening Turn fabric tawaf socks inside out and wash them, and dry them in the shade; wipe leather ones with a damp cloth.

So as not to lose your shoes in the Haram, a shoe bag carried on the back makes things easier. We explained the tawaf itself in our article on how to perform tawaf, and the other items you will take with you in our Umrah packing list article.

Frequently Asked Questions

References

This article was prepared by the RotaNur editorial team on the basis of the sources below. In religious rulings, the approach of the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye (Diyanet) and the Hanafi school are taken as the basis; for questions about your personal situation, consult Diyanet’s current fatwas. The information on material, size and sole is taken from RotaNur product descriptions.

1. Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye (Diyanet), High Council of Religious Affairs, “Ihramlı kişinin giymesi gereken ayakkabı nasıl olmalıdır? Bu kimse ökçesi kemerli terlik giyebilir mi?” (What should the footwear of a person in ihram be like? Can this person wear slippers with a heel strap?), Fatwas. kurul.diyanet.gov.tr. Accessed: 11.11.2026.
2. Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye (Diyanet), High Council of Religious Affairs, “Ihramlı kimse arkası kayışlı terlik giyebilir mi?” (Can a person in ihram wear slippers with a back strap?), Fatwas, 26.02.2025. kurul.diyanet.gov.tr. Accessed: 11.11.2026.
3. Salim Öğüt, “Ihram” (Ihram), TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (TDV Encyclopaedia of Islam), 2000. islamansiklopedisi.org.tr. Accessed: 11.11.2026.
4. Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye (Diyanet), High Council of Religious Affairs, “Ihram ne demektir?” (What does ihram mean?), Fatwas. kurul.diyanet.gov.tr. Accessed: 11.11.2026.
5. Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye (Diyanet), High Council of Religious Affairs, “Ihramlı erkeğin varis çorabı giymesinin hükmü nedir?” (What is the ruling on a man in ihram wearing compression stockings?), Fatwas. kurul.diyanet.gov.tr. Accessed: 11.11.2026.