Fatwa ID: 04461

Answered by: Imam Abdul-Malik Sheikh

Question:

A brother is going for Umrah and will be landing in Jeddah but will first be going to Madinah. Will he have to put his ihram on before entering Jeddah?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Dear Questioner.

The Shari’ah has set a boundary point area or Mīqāt within which Muslim pilgrims must be in the state of Iḥrām.

The Messenger of Allāh (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has fixed Dhul-Hulayfah as the Miqat for the people of Madinah; al-Juhfah for the people of Sham; and Qarn al-Manazil for the people of Najd; and Yalamlam for the people of Yemen.  These (above mentioned) are the Mawaqit for all those living in those places and also for those beside them who come through those places with the intention of performing Hajj and Umrah. Nevertheless, whoever lives within these places should assume Ihram from his dwelling place, and similarly, the people of Makkah can assume Ihram from Makkah.[1]

Jeddah is within the boundary of the Mīqāt. Therefore, if you are intending to enter Makkah for Hajj or Umrah you must ensure that you are in a state of Ihrām before passing the set boundary.

However, this will not be a problem if you intend to go to Madinah firsts and then do Ihrām from the Mīqāt before entering Makkah.[2]

Only Allah knows best

Written by Imam Abdul-Malik Sheikh

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham