Whoever omits ihram, his rite is not valid. Whoever omits another pillar, or its intention, his rite is not complete without it. Whoever omits an obligatory duty must offer a sacrificial expiation; but whoever omits a sunnah incurs no liability.
His statement, “Whoever omits ihram, his rite is not valid”: “Whoever omits ihram” means the intention—that is, entering into the rite. His rite is not valid, even if he circumambulates and performs sa‘i, for all of that is void. This is like someone who omits the opening takbir in prayer, then completes the prayer with recitation, bowing, prostration, standing, and sitting: his prayer is void and was not valid from the outset. This is due to the Prophet’s statement, peace and blessings be upon him: “Actions are only by intentions, and each person shall have only what he intended” (1). This person did not intend to enter into the rite, so he has not entered into it.
Yet it may be difficult to envisage such a case. How can we say of a man who bathed at the miqat, put on the garments of ihram, and recited the talbiyah, that he did not form the intention? That is most unlikely. But if it is assumed that someone did everything connected with the rite except forming the intention, then his rite is not valid and all his actions have been in vain. Otherwise, it is well known that when a person performs acts of worship, he must necessarily have intended them.
It is related from Ibn Aqil, one of Imam Ahmad’s followers, that a man came to him and said, “My master, I become in a state of major ritual impurity, so I go to the Tigris and bathe, immersing myself in it. Then I come out and find that my state of ritual impurity has not been lifted.” Ibn Aqil said to him, “Do not pray, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‘The Pen has been lifted from three: from the insane person until he regains sanity’ (2). You are insane: you go, remove your clothes, immerse yourself in the water, and then say, ‘I did not intend it.’ This is not reasonable.” It appears that the man was criticizing