There are 5 Miqats out of which 4 are recommended by Hadith and one was selected during the reign of Caliph Umar bin Khattab.
Hadtih for 4 Miqats: Sahih al-Bukhari 1526 /Book 25, Hadith 14 Vol. 2
Al-Juhfa was chosen as the Miqat for the people of Sham, Dhul Hulaifa was chosen for the people of Medina, Qarn Ul-Manazil was chosen for the people of Najd, and Yalamlam was chosen for the people of Yemen. The above-mentioned are the Mawaqit for everyone who lives in those places and also for people who come through those places to perform Hajj and Umra. Everyone who lives in these places should assume Ihram from their home, and people who live in Mecca can do the same.
Source: https://sunnah.com/bukhari/25/14
After the Islamic forces took over the towns of Basra and Kufa, Umar Ibn al-Khattab, the second caliph of Islam, added a new Miqat during his rule. The Miqat is called Dhat Irq and is close to the city of An-Najaf now in Iraq.
Here, you will get proper answers to frequently asked questions related to Miqat:
5 Miqats for Hajj and Umrah:
- 1. Dhul Hulayfah
- 2. Al-Juhfah
- 3. Qarn al-Manazil
- 4. Dhat Irq
- 5. Yalamlam
Dhul Hulayfah:
One of the Miqat locations is called Dhu’l-Hulayfah, which is about 18 kilometres southwest of Mosque al-Nabawi in Medina, and around 410 kilometres (254.76 miles) north of Mecca. If someone is from Medina or coming from the North, this is the Miqat for him where he needs to enter into Ihram.
Another mosque is the Dhul Hulifa Mosque, which is about 450 km from Mecca and 9 km from Medina. People who live in Medina go to this mosque for Miqat, but you don’t have to wear Ihram inside; you can wear it on the outside as well.
So, to sum it up, Dhu’l-Hulayfah is the Miqat for those coming from the North or Medina, while it is also a Miqat for locals in Medina. Wear Ihram before crossing this if you’re coming from the relevant direction.
Al-Juhfah
People coming from Syria, Turkey, Europe, North America, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan, Algeria, or a number of other African countries to do Hajj or Umrah should follow these rules. He will need to know about Al-Juhfah, a Miqat that is around 190 km northwest of Mecca. It’s often called Rabigh, which comes from the name of the small town just to the north of it.
In this place, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) met his uncle Abbas (RA) on his way to take over Mecca.
About 9 kilometers away from the city is Ghadir Khumm, which is near the Red Sea. This is also where people going from Jeddah to Mecca put on Ihram. So, if you’re coming from one of those countries, make sure you put on Ihram at either Al-Juhfah or Rabigh.
Qarn al-Manazil
The hilly area of Qarn al-Manazil is about 80 km east of Mecca, close to the city of Ta’if. If you are coming from Najd or other countries like the U.A.E., Oman, Pakistan, Australia, Malaysia, or Singapore to do the journey, this is where you should go. Qarn al-Manazil is also known as Muqat Al Sail Al Kabir and is significant because it is the location where the Angel Gabriel (AS) appeared before Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when he was persecuted by the Taif inhabitants.
Dhat Irq
Dhat Irq is a Miqat located approximately 85–94 kilometres northeast of Mecca, depending on the specific location. It is the designated Miqat for people coming from Iran, Iraq, China, Russia, and other countries who intend to perform Hajj or Umrah.
Here are three sections:
- 1. Maslakh
- 2. Qumrah
- 3. Dhat Irq
Although it is advised to wear Ihram from Maslakh, it is acceptable to do so from any of the three locations. Dhat Irq Miqat was established during the Caliphate of Umar (RA) and was named after the largest mountain in the area, Irq Aswad.
After the towns of Basra and Kufa were captured, the Muslims complained to the 2nd Caliphate that it was difficult for them to reach Qarn (Miqat fixed by the Messenger of Allah for the Najd inhabitants). In response, Umar Bin Khattab (RA) suggested that they take a Miqat opposite Qarn as a usual route. So, he fixed Dhat Irq as a new Miqat.
Yalamlam
Yalamlam is a hilly area located about 100 kilometres south of Mecca and is the Miqat for those coming from Yemen and those travelling from the southern regions like South Africa and Nigeria. It’s also the Miqat for them, who arrive by ship from countries such as China, Japan, and India.
Previously, Yalamlam was also used by traders from the Indian subcontinent. The area is mountainous and situated about 92 kilometres southeast of Mecca. So, if you’re travelling from Yemen or following the same route, this would be your Miqat location.
Ultimate Guide Hajj: How to perform Hajj?
Ultimate Guide Umrah: How to perform Umrah?
3 Miqats for Mecca residents:
- 1. Ayesha Mosque (Taneem Mosque)
- 2. Juranah Mosque
- 3. Hudaibiyah Mosque
Ayesha Mosque:
There is only one mosque with two names; they are not two different mosques. Today, this mosque is built right where Ayesha (RA) went back into her Ihram because she was having her period, as ordered by her husband, the Prophet (may God bless him and give him peace).
Juranah Mosque:
It is the second Miqat for people who live in Mecca. There is a story that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) stayed here during the Battle of Hunayn. He (PBUH) and his friends put on Ihram here after the war and went to Mecca for Hajj and Umrah.
Hudaibiyah Mosque:
The third Miqat is the Hudaybiyah Mosque where a historic event took place when the Prophet (peace be upon him) and 10,000 of his companions stayed there. At that time, an agreement was done between the Quraysh tribe of Mecca and the Muslims at the place of Hudaybiyah. Today, apart from Ayesha and Jurana mosques, Hudaybiyah mosque is also used for wearing Ihram.
FAQs about Miqat:
Q. If one lives in Mecca, what would be the best choice among the five Miqats?
There is no one among the five Miqats, he should have three other options to wear Ihram.
Q. Can Ihram be wearing at Jeddah airport acceptable?
No, this is not a proper place to wear Ihram.The city of Jeddah is the most popular way to get to Saudi Arabia because it is closer to Mecca than Medina. The Al-Juhfah Miqat is better for them if they want to go to Mecca for Umrah or Hajj.
The rules regarding Miqat apply equally to both Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Note that Jeddah Airport is located within the boundaries of Miqat. Therefore, it is necessary to wear Ihram before reaching the airport.
Q. Is it permissible to wear Ihram during the flight?
Yes, you can wear Ihram on a flight, but there are rules about what you have to do before putting it on, like bathing, shaving, etc., so no one can wear it on a flight. If one wants to try, complete them all before putting on Ihram at home or before boarding a flight.
Except for Saudi Airlines, we do not recommend any flight users wear Ihram during flights. It is excellent as it provides a convenient place where you can easily enter the state of Ihram.
