Short answer
No. White is recommended for men, but any colour is valid, and the cloth may be cotton, towelling or another fabric. The only cloth forbidden is one dyed or treated with perfume. You may wash or change your ihram sheets at any time; use unscented detergent.
It is mustahabb for men to wear two new or washed white sheets. Other colours are permitted except cloth dyed with a fragrant dye such as saffron or wars. Changing and washing the sheets is allowed; scented products should be avoided once in ihram.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Wear white clothes, for they are among your best clothes." When he set out for Hajj he did not forbid any sheets except those dyed with saffron that left a mark on the skin. So white is the Sunnah and the colour of choice, but not a condition. The four schools agree.
- Fabric: cotton, towelling or blends are all fine. Choose something breathable that stays opaque when wet, so the awrah stays covered.
- Size: the lower sheet must cover from navel to knee; get one wide enough to wrap securely.
- Washing: allowed any time. Unscented detergent is best. Hanafi muftis treat a light detergent scent like scented soap, disliked but without penalty; avoid fabric softener with strong perfume.
- Changing: you may change into a fresh set as often as you like. Changing clothes does not end or renew ihram.
- Belt: any colour and material.
- Washed with perfume before ihram: wearing a sheet that still carries applied perfume after the intention is not allowed (see perfume in ihram).
- Women: no colour rule; normal modest clothes (see ihram for women).
How to put the sheets on is in what men wear in ihram.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:197
ٱلْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌۭ مَّعْلُومَٰتٌۭ ۚ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ ٱلْحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا۟ مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ يَعْلَمْهُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَتَزَوَّدُوا۟ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ ٱلزَّادِ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَٱتَّقُونِ يَٰٓأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ ﴿١٩٧﴾
Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of ihram], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj. And whatever good you do - Allah knows it. And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.
The outward dress serves the inner taqwa.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 994
Graded sahih... البسوا من ثيابكم البياض فإنها من خير ثيابكم ...
"Wear white clothes, for they are among your best clothes."
White is the recommended colour.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1545
Sahih... فلم ينه عن شيء من الأردية والأزر تلبس إلا المزعفرة التي تردع على الجلد ...
"He did not forbid any upper or lower sheets except those dyed with saffron that left a mark on the skin."
Any colour is allowed except perfumed dye.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Hajj, chapter on ihram. Two new or washed sheets, white being best.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hajj, on what is disliked in ihram. Cloth dyed with saffron or wars is forbidden; washing is allowed.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.