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The Mawaqeet (Miqat) in Hajj and Umrah

 

Umrah pilgrims before miqat
Umrah pilgrims before miqat

Hajj and Umrah begins with the miqat. In this paper we will explain it in more detail. Previously we have explained the benefits andpositions of the Hajj in Islam.

The Mawaqeet (pl. of Miqat), points at which pilgrims on their way to perform the Hajj or the Umrah assume the state of Ihram, that is, consecration and the ritual dress that marks it)

Al-Mawaqeet Are Of Two Kinds

·         The Mawaqeet in terms of time: the months of the Hajj season.

·         The Mawaqeet in terms of location. The Muslim intending to perform the Hajj, or the Umrah must enter the state of Ihram before crossing them.

These points are:

1.       Dthul-Hulaifah, the Miqat of the residents of Madinah and those passing through it. It is 435 km from Makkah. It is the furthest Miqat from Makkah. It is also known as Abbyar Ali.

2.       Al-Juhfah, the Miqat of the residents of Syria and Egypt as well as of those passing through those two countries. It is a village located near Rabigh which is 180 km away from Makkah. Nowadays people enter the Ihram from Rabigh.

3.       Yalamlam, the Miqat of the people of Yemen and countries aligned with it, and for those passing through them. Yalamlam is a valley which is 92 km away from Makkah.

4.       Qarn al-Manazil, the Miqat of the people of Najd, Taif, and those passing through them. It is also known as As-Sayl AlKabeer, which is 75 km away from Makkah, and the valley of Muhram is the highest point in Qarn al-Manazil.

5.       Dthat irq, the miqat of the people of Iraq, Khurasan, middle and nort of Najd, the towns aligned with them, as well as for those passing through them. This Miqat is a valley which is approximately 100 km away from Makkah.

Those living within the radius of the Mawaqeet may enter the Ihram from the place in which they live. A Makkan intending to perform the Hajj may enter the Ihram in Makkah itself, but if he intends to perform Umrah, he may enter the Ihram from any place outside the boundaries of the Haram, such as Masjid Aa'ishah in the Tan'eem, or Al-Ju'ranah.

If a person traveling to Makkah in a direction other than his town's Miqat, he may assume his Ihram from any nearest point to a Miqat aligned with his town's Miqat. This applies to those coming to Makkah by air, sea, or land.

It is not permissible for anyone intending to perform the Hajj or the Umrah to cross the Miqat without entering the state of Ihram. He who does so must return to the Miqat to assume Ihram, or to assume Ihram from wherever he happens to be, provided he sacrifices a sheep as an expiation. If he assumes his Ihram before arriving at the Miqat, though it is unpraiseworthy, but his Hajj remains valid.

Conclusion About Miqat

That is the explanation of the miqat. If you are planning the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage, one of the important things that we understand is the miqat ritual.