It is recommended to say: “O Allah, I intend such-and-such a rite, so make it easy for me. And if something prevents me, then my release will be wherever You prevent me.”
His statement: “It is recommended to say: ‘O Allah, I intend such-and-such a rite, so make it easy for me.’” A recommendation requires evidence, yet there is no evidence for this. When the Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—intended to enter ihram for Hajj or Umrah, he did not say, “O Allah, I intend Umrah,” or, “O Allah, I intend Hajj.” It is well known that acts of worship are founded upon adherence to the revealed guidance. Since the Messenger—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—performed Umrah four times and Hajj once, yet neither said this nor directed others to say it, it should not be regarded as recommended.
Therefore, the correct view on this issue is that uttering these words is like saying, “O Allah, I intend to pray, so make the prayer easy for me,” or, “I intend to perform ablution, so make ablution easy for me.” This is an innovation. Likewise, with regard to the rite, do not say this. Rather, say what the Prophet—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—instructed Dubāʿah bint al-Zubayr—may Allah be pleased with her—to say when she sought his ruling, wishing to perform Hajj while she was unwell. He said: “Perform Hajj, but stipulate, saying: ‘O Allah, my release will be wherever You prevent me’” (1). He did not say, “Say: ‘O Allah, I intend such-and-such a rite.’”
His statement: “And if something prevents me, then my release will be wherever You prevent me,” means: if something prevents me from completing my rite, then I shall be released from my ihram at the place where that impediment arises. The apparent meaning of the author’s words is that this statement is general, applying both to one who fears an impediment and one who does not. That is, it applies to one who fears an obstacle that may prevent him from completing his rite, such as illness, the loss of his provisions, or the breaking of a mount.