Chapter: How to Enter the State of Ihram

The first rite of the Hajj is ihram: the intention to embark upon the pilgrimage. It is so called because, by this intention, a Muslim makes unlawful for himself matters that had been lawful before entering ihram—such as marriage, perfume, trimming the nails, shaving the head, and certain types of clothing.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (d. 728 AH) said: “A person does not become muḥrim simply by the resolve for Hajj that he carries in his heart, for that resolve has been with him ever since he left his homeland. Rather, a word or an explicit act is required by which he actually assumes ihram.” End quote.

Before entering ihram it is recommended to prepare by performing several actions in anticipation of this great act of worship:

First: to bathe one’s entire body, for the Prophet ﷺ bathed when he assumed ihram. Such a bath is more thorough in cleansing and removing odor. It is prescribed even for a menstruating woman or one experiencing post-partum bleeding, because the Prophet ﷺ instructed Asmāʾ bint ʿUmays, who was in post-partum bleeding, to bathe; this was related by Muslim.