Answered by Sidi Suheil Laher
Can I pray my 2 rakat sunnat al-ihram at home and put on my ihram (later) on the plane (just before the miqat), or do the 2 rakat have to be prayed after donning the ihram?
Answer:
The 2 sunnah rak`ah of ihram are to be performed after donning the ihram and just before pronouncing the initial, required talbiyah. As Imam al-Quduri says,
“When one desires to enter ihram, he
1. performs ghusl or wudu’, but ghusl is better
2. wears two new or washed cloths : an izar (waist-wrapper) and a rida’ (upper garment).
3. applies perfume if he has some
4. he prays two rak`ah
5. says, Allahumma inni uridu’l-hajja fa-yassirhu li wa-taqabbalhu minni.
6. pronounces talbiyah after his salah.”
However, it is permissible – and in fact superior in the Hanafi school – to enter the state of ihram before reaching the miqat, provided that one feels reasonably confident that one will be able to observe the restrictions of ihram for the additional length of time. [Ibn `Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; al-`Uthmani, I`la al-Sunan]
It is reported that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said,
“Whoever puts on ihram from Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem), Allah will forgive whatever of his sins have preceded.” [Narrated by Ahmad]
And Sayyidina `Ali (may Allah be well-pleased with him) said, “Offering the pilgrimage completely [see: Qur’an, 2:196] entails pronouncing the talbiyah from your family’s residence.” [Narrated by al-Hakim and al-Bayhaqi, and by Ibn Kathir in his Tafsir. Qadi al-Shawkani said that its isnad is strong. See: Nayl al-Awtar]
So, you have two choices: either wear the ihram and pray the two rak`ahs at home, or do both of them on the plane just before the miqat. But either way, you will wear the ihram before praying the 2 sunnah rak`ahs.
And Allah knows best.
-sl