Fixed Times and Places of Ihram

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Ihram, which is the first rite of hajj, must start in miqat.

Miqat is of two kinds:

• Time: that is only during which the rite of pilgrimage can be done, which means the specific times of ihram that the rite will not be considered correct without it. Allah says “The hajj is in the well known months”, also Allah says “They ask you (O, Muhammed (S.A.S.)) about the new moons, say: these are signs to mark fixed periods of time and for the pilgrimage”. The months of pilgrimage are: Shawwal, Dhul-Ki’dah and Dhul-Hijjah.

• Places: specific places where a pilgrim or a person intending to visit Makkah for Umrah or hajj must declare his intention to do so, and puts on ihram, the pilgrim garb.

The prophet (S.A.S.) specified these places as follows:

* Direction
* Miqat
* Distance from Makkah
* Madinah
* Dhul-Hulaifah
* 450 km to the north of Makkah
* Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon
* Al-Juhfah
* 187 km to the north-west of Makkah
* Raeh
* 204 km to the east of Makkah
* Najd
* Qarn Al-Manazil
* 94 km to the east of Makkah
* Yemen
* Yalamlum
* 54 km to the south of Makkah
* Iraq
* Thatu Irq
* 94 km to the north east of Makkah

These places were fixed by the Prophet (S.A.S.) for all those who pass by them whether they come from these specific areas or some other areas. The Prophet (S.A.S.) said “these places are for people coming there from as well as for others who pass by them on their way to perform hajj or Umrah. For a person who lives in Makkah his Miqat would be the place where he is staying in Makkah”.

Parent page: Pilgrimage