Miqat

What is Miqat?

Miqat (plural: mawaqit) means an "appointed time" or "appointed place". In Hajj, it refers to two things: the fixed locations beyond which no pilgrim may pass (heading to Mecca for Hajj or Umrah) without entering the state of ihram, and the fixed months in which Hajj is performed. They were appointed by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The Spatial Mawaqit (Mawaqit Makaniyyah)

In a famous hadith, the Prophet ﷺ designated five points around Mecca, each for the people of a region and for any who pass through them (Bukhari 1524, Muslim 1181):

• Dhul-Hulayfah — for the people of Madinah (today known as Abyar Ali).
• Al-Juhfah — for the people of Sham (the Levant, Egypt, North Africa).
• Qarn al-Manazil — for the people of Najd and beyond (today as-Sayl al-Kabir).
• Yalamlam — for the people of Yemen.
• Dhat 'Irq — for the people of Iraq.

The people of Mecca enter ihram from their homes for Hajj, and they go out to the Hill (outside the Haram boundary) for Umrah. Today, modern travellers crossing one of the miqat lines — including by air — must enter ihram before crossing it.

The Temporal Mawaqit (Mawaqit Zamaniyyah)

Allah says: "The Hajj is in well-known months..." (Quran 2:197). These months are Shawwal, Dhul-Qa'dah and Dhul-Hijjah (the first ten days, in the majority view). Umrah, by contrast, may be performed at any time of the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I pass the miqat without ihram?

One who passes a miqat intending Hajj or Umrah without entering ihram must, according to most scholars, return to the miqat and enter ihram there; otherwise an expiation (typically the sacrifice of an animal) is due, as decided by the scholars of the school being followed.

How do flights handle the miqat?

Cabin crew or the airline's announcement typically alerts pilgrims a short time before the plane reaches the miqat line, so passengers can complete ihram and make the intention before crossing it.