Short answer
Take it off as soon as you remember. In the Hanafi school a man who wears stitched clothes or covers his head or face for a full day or a full night owes a dam; for less than that, sadaqah. Forgetting or not knowing does not remove the penalty, though it removes the sin. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools excuse forgetfulness.
For a man, wearing tailored clothing in the normal way, or covering a quarter or more of the head or face, for a full day or night requires a dam; less than a full day requires half a sa' of wheat or its value. The same applies whether done deliberately, by mistake, through ignorance or by force. If done out of need, he may choose a dam, three days of fasting or feeding six poor people.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- No penalty is due from someone who wore clothes or covered the head out of forgetfulness or ignorance, if he removes it once he knows.
- Hanbali
- No penalty is due for forgetfulness or ignorance in clothing, covering and perfume.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ listed what a man in ihram may not wear: shirts, turbans, trousers, hooded cloaks and leather socks. A man once came to him in ihram wearing a cloak with perfume on it, and he told him to take off the cloak and wash off the perfume. The Hanafis hold that the penalty for a violation is owed for the act, like paying for damaged property, so a mistake still requires it, though there is no sin.
- A full day or night: about 12 hours of wearing it continuously means a dam.
- Less than that: sadaqah, half a sa' of wheat or its value, the amount of sadaqat al-fitr.
- Head or face: covering a quarter or more for a full day with a cap, towel or blanket means a dam; less than a quarter or less than a day, sadaqah. Sleeping with your face under a blanket all night counts.
- Draped, not worn: a shirt thrown over your shoulders without putting your arms in the sleeves is no violation.
- Several items at once: wearing a shirt and trousers together for one reason is one penalty.
- Out of need: illness or bitter cold gives you the choice of a dam, three days of fasting or feeding six poor people.
Women wear normal clothes; for them the rule applies to covering the face with cloth touching it (see women's ihram). For the full list see what is forbidden in ihram.
Ask a mufti about your own case. This answer explains the general ruling. When the details of your situation matter, as they do here, ask a qualified mufti and give them the full facts. Where to ask a scholar.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:196
وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلْحَجَّ وَٱلْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ فَإِنْ أُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۖ وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا۟ رُءُوسَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْهَدْىُ مَحِلَّهُۥ ۚ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِۦٓ أَذًۭى مِّن رَّأْسِهِۦ فَفِدْيَةٌۭ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍۢ ۚ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِٱلْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى ٱلْحَجِّ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ ۚ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍۢ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ ۗ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌۭ كَامِلَةٌۭ ۗ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن لَّمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُۥ حَاضِرِى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ﴿١٩٦﴾
And complete the Hajj and 'umrah for Allah. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs 'umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during Hajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Haram. And fear Allah and know that Allah is severe in penalty.
The ransom when a rule of ihram is broken out of need.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1542
Sahih... لا يلبس القمص ولا العمائم ولا السراويلات ...
"He should not wear shirts, turbans or trousers."
The clothes a man may not wear in ihram.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1789
Sahih... اخلع عنك الجبة واغسل أثر الخلوق عنك ...
"Take off the cloak and wash the trace of perfume off yourself."
A violation is ended at once when the pilgrim learns of it.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Hajj, bab al-jinayat. A dam for a full day of stitched clothing or covering the head; sadaqah for less.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Hajj, bab al-jinayat. Forgetfulness, ignorance and compulsion do not remove the penalty.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Kitab al-Hajj, on the violations of ihram. The Hanbali excuse for the forgetful.
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.