Verbalizing the Intention in Ihram and Acts of Worship
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Question:
I entered the state of ihram for 'Umrah, then I passed the miqat without verbalizing the intention. When I remembered, I was at the House. Does this affect my 'Umrah?
Answer:
Ihram is the intention in the heart. If you intend to enter into ihram, that is sufficient. Verbalizing it is not obligatory; verbalizing it is a recommended practice (sunnah). You say, "Labbaik Allahumma 'Umrah," or "O Allah, I intend to enter ihram for 'Umrah." This verbalization is a recommended practice (sunnah). If you leave it and restrict yourself to the intention, that is sufficient.
Yes, and likewise in Hajj. In entering ihram for Hajj or 'Umrah, the default is the intention. The intention is necessary. As for verbalizing it, that is a recommended practice (sunnah), not obligatory. Verbalizing the intention is prescribed only in this place, and in slaughtering the 'Id sacrifice or the offering. You say, "O Allah, this is from You and for You. O Allah, this is a sacrifice on behalf of so-and-so," or "the offering of tamattu' on behalf of so-and-so." Verbalizing the intention is only in these two places. As for other acts of worship, it is not permissible to verbalize the intention during prayer, nor during fasting, nor during any act of worship. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not verbalize the intention except in these two places.
Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:[Al-Hujurat 49:16]. When the Bedouins claimed that they had believed [Al-Hujurat 49:14], then Allah said: "Say: Do you know Allah about your religion?" So Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) invalidates what is in the hearts without the marriage contract; [for example], saying, "I intend to perform tawaf," "I intend to perform sa'y," or "I intend to pray the four rak'ahs of the Zuhr prayer behind this imam as an obligatory prayer." All of this is among the bid'ah (religious innovations) that [Yusuf 12:40]. Now, you attend the prayer, you say the takbir with the imam, and praise be to Allah, without this chatter and this talk that wastes your time and delays you from entering the prayer. Some people stand there, meaning they arrive five minutes early and are just chattering, and they miss the takbir of ihram and miss entering the prayer from the beginning because of adhering to this bid'ah. This is absolutely not permissible. Yes.
I entered the state of ihram for 'Umrah, then I passed the miqat without verbalizing the intention. When I remembered, I was at the House. Does this affect my 'Umrah?
Answer:
Ihram is the intention in the heart. If you intend to enter into ihram, that is sufficient. Verbalizing it is not obligatory; verbalizing it is a recommended practice (sunnah). You say, "Labbaik Allahumma 'Umrah," or "O Allah, I intend to enter ihram for 'Umrah." This verbalization is a recommended practice (sunnah). If you leave it and restrict yourself to the intention, that is sufficient.
Yes, and likewise in Hajj. In entering ihram for Hajj or 'Umrah, the default is the intention. The intention is necessary. As for verbalizing it, that is a recommended practice (sunnah), not obligatory. Verbalizing the intention is prescribed only in this place, and in slaughtering the 'Id sacrifice or the offering. You say, "O Allah, this is from You and for You. O Allah, this is a sacrifice on behalf of so-and-so," or "the offering of tamattu' on behalf of so-and-so." Verbalizing the intention is only in these two places. As for other acts of worship, it is not permissible to verbalize the intention during prayer, nor during fasting, nor during any act of worship. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not verbalize the intention except in these two places.
Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:
Say, "Would you acquaint Allah with your religion while Allah knows whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth
قُلْ أَتُعَلِّمُونَ اللَّهَ بِدِينِكُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِThe bedouins say, "We have believed." Say, "You have not [yet] believed; but say [instead], 'We have submitted,'
قَالَتِ الْأَعْرَابُ آمَنَّا قُل لَّمْ تُؤْمِنُوا وَلَٰكِن قُولُوا أَسْلَمْنَاfor which Allah has sent down no authority
مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ
Source
الفوزان -أشرطة- أسئلة وأجوبة من دروس التوحيد - الفوزان - أسئلة وأ،جوبة - 07 — archive.org (54:54)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.