Chapter

Ihram is the pilgrim’s deliberate intention to commence the rite.

For the one who means to enter ihram it is recommended to: perform a full ritual bath—or, if water is unavailable, dry ablution—cleanse and perfume the body, remove any stitched garment¹, and don an unsewn white loincloth (izār) and mantle (ridāʾ). He should enter ihram after praying two rakʿahs, and the intention itself is a requisite. It is also recommended for him to say²: “Allāhumma innī urīdu nusuka kadhā fa-yassirhu lī, wa-in ḥabasani ḥābis fa-maḥallī ḥaythu ḥabastanī” (O Allah, I intend such-and-such a rite, so make it easy for me; and if I am restrained by an obstacle, my place of release is wherever You restrain me).

The best of the pilgrimage forms is tamattuʿ. Its procedure is to enter ihram for ʿumrah during the months of Hajj, complete it, and then enter ihram for Hajj in the same year. A sacrificial animal is obligatory upon the non-resident. If a woman begins menstruating and fears missing Hajj, she should enter ihram for it and thus becomes a qarinah, combining both Hajj and ʿumrah.

When the pilgrim settles upon his mount he proclaims: “Labbayk Allāhumma labbayk, labbayk lā sharīka laka labbayk; inna al-ḥamda wa-n-niʿmata laka wa-l-mulk, lā sharīka laka” (Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am; You have no partner. Here I am. Truly, all praise, grace, and sovereignty belong to You; You have no partner). The man raises his voice with it, whereas the woman recites it softly.