Chapter of Ihram: Ihram is the intention of the act of worship

The Shaykh : Then the author said "Chapter of Ihram". Ihram is derived from tahrim (prohibition), and the meaning of "I have entered into ihram" is that one has entered into the state of prohibition, just as "I have entered into Najd" means one has entered into the region of Najd. Therefore, the meaning of ihram is a person entering into the state of prohibition. This is why the first takbir of the prayer is called the takbir of ihram, because by it one enters into the prohibition, meaning the prohibition of what is forbidden for the one praying. As for what is meant by it here, it is the intention of the act of worship, meaning the intention of entering into it. This ihram means that one intends that he has now entered into ihram, not the intention that he is performing 'Umrah or that he is performing Hajj, but rather the intention of entering into 'Umrah or the intention of entering into Hajj. There is a difference between the two. For example, if one of you wants to perform Hajj this year, do we say that with this intention he has entered into ihram? No, because he has not intended to enter into it. Similarly, if we want to pray 'Isha', have we entered into the prayer with this intention? No. Therefore, the intention of the act itself does not have an effect, but the intention of entering into it is what has an effect. For this reason, we say that ihram, O 'Umar, is the intention of entering into the act of worship, not the intention that he is performing Hajj. That is, he intends to enter into 'Umrah if his act of worship is 'Umrah, or into Hajj if his act of worship is Hajj. As for the one who intends to perform Hajj or 'Umrah, he does not become in a state of ihram by that, just like the prayer. You now want to pray 'Isha; does this intention of yours constitute a prohibition, meaning that what is forbidden for the one praying becomes forbidden for you? No. When does it become so? When you intend to enter into it. If you intend to enter into it, that is what constitutes entering into the prayer. The intention of entering into the act of worship is called ihram because when one enters into the act of worship, he prohibits for himself what was permissible before the ihram. For example, it becomes forbidden for him to engage in rafath (sexual relations or obscene speech), it becomes forbidden for him to use perfume, it becomes forbidden for him to shave the head, and it becomes forbidden for him to hunt. By what? By the ihram. Good. The intention of entering into the act of worship. The author said "It is recommended for the one who intends it to perform ghusl". It is recommended. Who is the one who recommended it? The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). And sunnah in language means "the way" or "the path," and in the Shari'ah it means the sayings and actions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).