excerpt from Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri’s book “Ghair Masnoon Nafli Nawafl” (غیر مسنون نفلی نمازیں), following your instructions:
Performing two rak‘ahs specifically for entering the state of iḥrām is not established from authentic sources. There is no clear and explicit evidence supporting the legislated nature of this practice. However, some of the later scholars (متاخرین) hold the opinion that offering two rak‘ahs before assuming iḥrām is recommended (مستحب) and legislated (مشروع). Their reasoning is based on the following narrations:
صلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فى المسجد.
“Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed in the mosque.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1218
This ḥadīth is cited as a general indication that the Prophet ﷺ offered prayer before assuming iḥrām.
❀ سیدنا عمر بن خطاب رضی اللہ عنہ said:
أتاني الليلة آت من ربي، فقال: صل فى هذا الوادي المبارك وقل: عمرة فى حجة.
“Last night, a messenger from my Lord came to me and said: ‘Pray in this blessed valley and say: ‘ʿUmrah within Ḥajj.’”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1534
This narration is sometimes interpreted to mean that the Prophet ﷺ offered two rak‘ahs before entering iḥrām, but in reality, this refers to the obligatory prayer (farḍ) and not a special prayer for iḥrām.
None of the early generations (السلف) held the view that a specific prayer for iḥrām is legislated.
ليس للإحرام صلاة تخصه وهذا أرجح.
“There is no specific prayer prescribed for entering into iḥrām, and this is the stronger opinion.”
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā: 26/109
لم ينقل عنه أنه صلى للإحرام ركعتين غير فرض الظهر.
“It is not reported from the Prophet ﷺ that he offered two rak‘ahs for iḥrām apart from the Ẓuhr prayer.”
Zād al-Maʿād fī Hadyi Khayr al-ʿIbād: 2/107
✿ The notion of two rak‘ahs specifically for iḥrām is not supported by authentic and explicit proofs.
✿ The narrations used by some later scholars either refer to general prayers or obligatory prayers, not a specific sunnah for iḥrām.
✿ Leading scholars such as Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim affirm that no such prayer is prescribed.
✿ Hence, offering two rak‘ahs for the sole purpose of entering iḥrām is not legislated and should not be considered a sunnah or mustaḥabb practice.
❖ Two Rak‘ahs for Entering into Iḥrām
◈ Are Two Rak‘ahs for Iḥrām Legislated in Islam?
Performing two rak‘ahs specifically for entering the state of iḥrām is not established from authentic sources. There is no clear and explicit evidence supporting the legislated nature of this practice. However, some of the later scholars (متاخرین) hold the opinion that offering two rak‘ahs before assuming iḥrām is recommended (مستحب) and legislated (مشروع). Their reasoning is based on the following narrations:
① Hadith of Jābir رضي الله عنه:
صلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فى المسجد.
“Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed in the mosque.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1218This ḥadīth is cited as a general indication that the Prophet ﷺ offered prayer before assuming iḥrām.
② Hadith of Sayyidunā ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه:
❀ سیدنا عمر بن خطاب رضی اللہ عنہ said:
أتاني الليلة آت من ربي، فقال: صل فى هذا الوادي المبارك وقل: عمرة فى حجة.
“Last night, a messenger from my Lord came to me and said: ‘Pray in this blessed valley and say: ‘ʿUmrah within Ḥajj.’”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1534This narration is sometimes interpreted to mean that the Prophet ﷺ offered two rak‘ahs before entering iḥrām, but in reality, this refers to the obligatory prayer (farḍ) and not a special prayer for iḥrām.
◈ Position of the Early Generations (Salaf)
None of the early generations (السلف) held the view that a specific prayer for iḥrām is legislated.
❖ Verdicts of Renowned Scholars
✔ Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله (d. 728 AH) said:
ليس للإحرام صلاة تخصه وهذا أرجح.
“There is no specific prayer prescribed for entering into iḥrām, and this is the stronger opinion.”
Majmūʿ al-Fatāwā: 26/109✔ Imām Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله (d. 751 AH) stated:
لم ينقل عنه أنه صلى للإحرام ركعتين غير فرض الظهر.
“It is not reported from the Prophet ﷺ that he offered two rak‘ahs for iḥrām apart from the Ẓuhr prayer.”
Zād al-Maʿād fī Hadyi Khayr al-ʿIbād: 2/107
Summary
✿ The notion of two rak‘ahs specifically for iḥrām is not supported by authentic and explicit proofs.
✿ The narrations used by some later scholars either refer to general prayers or obligatory prayers, not a specific sunnah for iḥrām.
✿ Leading scholars such as Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al-Qayyim affirm that no such prayer is prescribed.
✿ Hence, offering two rak‘ahs for the sole purpose of entering iḥrām is not legislated and should not be considered a sunnah or mustaḥabb practice.
