Fiqh-us-Sunnah Volume 5, Hajj and ‘Umrah, Fiqh 5.031.

Ihram is the intention to perform either Hajj or ‘Umrah, or to make intention of performing both. Intention is an important element of both. Allah says: “And they have been commanded no more than this: to worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion.” (Qur’an 98.5) The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The actions will be rewarded according to the intentions behind them, and every person will have what he had intended.”

We have dealt with the subject of intention in Fiqh us-Sunnah, Vol.1.(See the chapter on Wudu in Fiqh us-Sunnah vol. 1) The human heart is its seat. Al-Kamal bin al-Homam reported, “We are unaware of anyone among the narrators reporting about the rites performed by the Prophet (peace be upon him) and saying that he (the Prophet) declared his intention to perform Hajj or ‘Umrah aloud saying, “I have made the intention to make ‘Umrah or Hajj.”