Types of Miqat for Hajj Pilgrims

This page explains the understanding of miqat and the five points of geographical miqat that mark the boundary for wearing ihram clothes for Hajj pilgrims according to their direction of arrival.

Miqat is distinguished into temporal miqat, which refers to certain months that are valid for performing Hajj, and geographical miqat, which is the place where one begins wearing ihram clothes.
Five geographical miqat points are mentioned: Dhul-Hulayfah for pilgrims from Madinah, Al-Juhfah for pilgrims from Sham, Egypt and the Maghreb, Yalamlam for pilgrims from Yemen including Indonesia, Qarnul-Manazil for pilgrims from Najd, and Dhat 'Irq for pilgrims from Iraq.
Pilgrims who pass the miqat boundary without wearing ihram are obligated to return to their miqat point, and if not done, they are subject to dam or fine.

Miqat literally means boundary, a line of demarcation or boundary line between permissible and impermissible, or a command to start and stop, meaning when to begin uttering the intention and purpose of crossing the boundary between ordinary land and sacred land.

Upon entering the sacred land, all pilgrims must wear special "ihram" clothing and knock on the door of the boundary guarded by the inhabitants of paradise. This knock or "greeting" should be uttered at the miqat boundary by reciting the talbiyyah while dressed uniformly in white, which is the ihram clothing. This miqat, which begins with the act of wearing ihram clothes, must be done before crossing the specified boundaries.

Types of Miqat for Hajj (temporal) consist of:

1. Temporal miqat 2. Geographical miqat

Temporal miqat refers to the times when Hajj worship is not valid except if performed during this temporal miqat. Allah swt. explains this through His saying, as mentioned in Q.S. (2), Al-Baqarah: 197:

"THE HAJJ HAS [KNOWN] MONTHS...". Meaning: "Performing the Hajj pilgrimage is in the known months..."

Geographical miqat is the place where Hajj pilgrims wear ihram clothes and intend to perform Hajj or Umrah.

The geographical miqat (the place of wearing ihram) is five places, according to the direction from which the Hajj pilgrims come.

Each is explained as follows:

1. Dhul-Hulayfah, also called Abyar Ali or Bir Ali. This place is the geographical miqat for Hajj pilgrims coming from Madinah direction. The distance between this miqat and Makkah is 9 marhalah or 450 km.

2. Al-Juhfah, now Rabigh, a place that is counted from the Madinah direction as well. This place is the geographical miqat for Hajj pilgrims coming from Sham, Egypt and the Maghreb. The distance to Makkah is 204 km.

3. Yalamlam, a mountain to the south of Makkah. This place is the geographical miqat for Hajj pilgrims coming from Yemen, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Indonesia. The distance between this place and Makkah is 94 km.

4. Qarnul-Manazil, a mountain to the east of Makkah city. This place is the geographical miqat for Hajj pilgrims coming from the Najd direction. The distance to Makkah city is 94 km.

5. Dhat 'Irq, a place to the east of Makkah. This place is the geographical miqat for Hajj pilgrims coming from Iraq. The distance to Makkah is 94 km.

Hajj pilgrims must wear ihram clothes at the geographical miqat from whichever direction they come. If they come from Madinah, they must wear ihram clothes at Dhul-Hulayfah, called Abyar Ali or Bir Ali. If they come from Indonesia, they must wear ihram clothes at Yalamlam.

If the pilgrims wear ihram clothes at a place that is less distance than their respective geographical miqat, then they are subject to dam (fine).

For example, they wear ihram clothes at a place with a distance of less than 450 km for Hajj pilgrims coming from Madinah, or less than 94 km for Hajj pilgrims coming from Indonesia, Yemen or Pakistan, then they are subject to this fine.

Those who intend to perform Hajj or Umrah but happen to exceed the geographical miqat while not yet wearing ihram clothes, are obligated to return to their geographical miqat to wear ihram clothes. If not, they are subject to the ruling that they must pay a dam (fine).

Source: Book of Hajj and Umrah, byDrs. Ir. Nogarsyah Moede Gayo

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