Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

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In this fatwa:

Wudu’ (ablution) is not a strict requirement for entering Ihram for Hajj or `Umrah.

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Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:

Wudu’ (ablution) is not a strict requirement for entering Ihram for Hajj or `Umrah. However, it is highly recommended for spiritual readiness. There is no clear evidence in the Quran or Sunnah that makes it mandatory, so Ihram is valid without it.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized cleanliness before worship. Performing Wudu’ before Ihram follows this Sunnah and boosts spiritual preparation. Scholars, like Ibn Qudamah, support its recommendation but not its necessity. Imam An-Nawawi calls it a helpful act of worship that doesn’t invalidate Ihram if skipped.

Doing Wudu’ before Ihram enhances spiritual readiness and peace of mind. If you skip it, Ihram is still valid, but perform Wudu’ as soon as you can. In short, Wudu’ is strongly recommended for Ihram to ensure the best spiritual benefit and adherence to Sunnah.

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Almighty Allah knows best.