Is it obligatory for one coming to Makkah, and for young children, to enter the state of ihram for 'Umrah?

The questioner : Do the young children have the same ruling as the adults regarding the obligation of entering ihram and performing 'Umrah upon arriving in Makkah?

The Shaykh : First, this question contains two assumptions. The first, which we understood from the content of the question, is that whoever comes to Makkah must enter ihram for 'Umrah. The second is whether young children, whether boys or girls, have the same ruling as adults regarding the obligation of entering ihram for 'Umrah when they come to Makkah. The answer to the first point is that if a person has performed the obligatory 'Umrah and the obligatory Hajj, then it is not obligatory for him to perform 'Umrah or Hajj again, even if he comes to Makkah. It is not obligatory for him to perform 'Umrah or Hajj as long as he has fulfilled the obligation, even if he stays away from Makkah for ten years, forty years, or more. If he returns to it for a purpose other than Hajj and 'Umrah, it is not obligatory for him to perform Hajj and 'Umrah. The evidence for this is the hadith of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) designated the miqat boundaries and said, "They are for them and for whoever comes to them from elsewhere who intends Hajj or 'Umrah." This indicates that these miqat boundaries do not become a miqat from which ihram is obligatory for one who does not intend Hajj or 'Umrah.
Based on this, we say: When is the intention to perform 'Umrah and Hajj obligatory? We say it is obligatory if a person has not yet fulfilled the obligation. If he has fulfilled the obligation, then nothing is obligatory for him after that. The evidence for this is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked, "Is Hajj every year?" He said, "If I said yes, it would become obligatory, and you would not be able to do it. So whatever is in excess is voluntary." This is an explicit text from the words of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that Hajj is once, and whatever is in excess is voluntary. If this is the case with Hajj, on which the Muslims have agreed is obligatory, what do you say about 'Umrah, on which the Muslims have disagreed regarding its obligation?
Based on this, we now understand that it is not obligatory for the young child or the adult, when he comes to Makkah, to enter ihram for 'Umrah or Hajj if he has already fulfilled his obligation. However, there is no doubt that it is better, purer, and more respectful of the symbols of Allah and the sanctities of Allah the Exalted for one to not enter Makkah except in the state of ihram. As for the second point, which is the ihram of young children, we say that the ihram of young children is not obligatory, because Hajj is not obligatory for the young child as a fard; the obligation of Islam is not required of him. So this is even more so the case. However, if his family performs Hajj or 'Umrah with him, the reward of 'Umrah and the reward of Hajj is for the child, and his guardian has a reward for this action. But the question is, and I say this from myself: Should a person make his young children enter ihram? The answer is: If it causes hardship for his family or distraction from their rituals because of this boy or child, then it is not recommended to make him enter ihram, because it would be a hardship for the child, and it would also be a distraction for his parents regarding his condition, and this is something we are in no need of. However, if the matter is easy, such as if the child is older, can walk and go, and can be taught and learn, then he should not be prevented from 'Umrah and Hajj. At the very least, it would be a habit for this child to perform 'Umrah and Hajj.