Chapter: The Prohibitions of the State of Ihram

They are nine: ………………..

His statement, “The prohibitions of ihram”: this construction is like that of “the prostration of forgetfulness,” for the genitive construction denotes causation—i.e., attributing something to its cause. Thus, “the prostration of forgetfulness” means the prostration occasioned by forgetfulness.

“The prohibitions of ihram” therefore means the matters prohibited on account of entering the state of ihram.

A prohibited matter is that which is forbidden. Allah the Exalted says:

“And the gift of your Lord is never restricted.” [al-Isra’ 17:20]

That is, never withheld.

His statement, “They are nine”: at this point, someone may ask, “What is the evidence that they are nine?”

The answer is: examination and inductive survey.

If someone says, “Your enumerating them as nine is an innovation; did the Messenger ﷺ say that the prohibitions of ihram are nine?”

The answer is that the Prophet ﷺ did not say this, but neither did he forbid it. Enumerating them falls under the category of means: it is a means of bringing knowledge closer to the Ummah and gathering its scattered parts, for this is easier. Thus, the Messenger ﷺ would sometimes say, “Seven will be shaded by Allah in His shade” (1). Had he said, “Allah will shade in His shade a just ruler,”