401. Praying Two Rak’aat Of Ihraam?

 By Asma bint Shameem 

QUESTION

*Do I have to pray “Two Rak’aat Nafl of Ihraam” when I make my intention for ihraam?*

ANSWER

There’s NO PROOF of any specific “two Nafl of Ihraam” from the Qur’aan or the authentic ahaadeeth. 

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam did NOT pray such a prayer. 

Rather, he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam made the niyyah of entering into the state of ihraam *AFTER a FARDH prayer*. 

So if you want to follow the Sunnah, you can either:

-Enter into the state of ihraam after a fardh prayer if possible 

-Or if that’s not possible, then you may read two rak’aat of Tahiyyatul wudhu and then enter into the state of ihraam. 

But there’s no “SPECIFIC RAK’AAT for ihraam” as such. 

Also remember that ihraam is NOT your CLOTHES; rather it’s a STATE that you enter into with your INTENTION. 

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“Some of them believe that it is obligatory to pray two rak’ahs when entering ihraam. 

This is a MISTAKE; 

it is NOT OBLIGATORY to pray two rak’ahs when entering ihraam.

Rather the CORRECT view on this matter was that suggested by Ibn Taymiyah, who said that there is NO SPECIFIC PRAYER to be offered when entering ihraam, because that was NOT NARRATED from the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam. 

If a person does ghusl and puts on the ihraam garments, then he should enter ihraam * WITHOUT PRAYING*, UNLESS it is the time of prayer, such as if the time for an obligatory prayer has come or is approaching, and he wants to stay at the meeqaat until he has prayed. 

In that case it is better for him to enter ihraam *AFTER* praying. 

With regard to intending to pray a specific prayer in ihraam, the most CORRECT opinion is that there is NO SPECIFIC PRAYER for entering ihraam.”

(Daleel Al-Akhta’ Allati Yaqa’u Fiha Al-Haaj Wa’l-Mu’tamir)

Someone asked Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen about entering into ihraam *AFTER praying Tahiyyatul wudhu.*

However, if someone wants to make their intention to enter into ihraam after tahiyyatul wudhu, then that’s permissible. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said regarding this matter:

“I think that there is nothing wrong with it. 

So long as the Sunnah prayer after wudhu’ is prescribed in sharee’ah and he wants to pray, there is nothing wrong with it, and there is nothing wrong with it even if he usually does not offer this prayer.”

(Majmoo’ Fataawa 22/14). 

And Allaah knows best