Issues of Meeqaat

Those who live within of the Haram of Makkah are called “Harami.”  For these people, for Haj the Meeqaat is the Haram itself and for ‘Umrah, it is Hill, which is the outlying area of Haram, like Masjid Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her) J‘irrania, etc.

 

The area outside the actual boundaries of the Haram is called Hill.  Those who live between Hill and Meeqaat are called Hilli, for e.g. those who live in Jeddah and so on.  For them, the Meeqaat is Hill.  If they want to go for Haj or Umrah, they should wear the Ihraam from their own places.

 

Those who live outside the Meeqaat are called “Aafaaqi”.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has decreed different Meeqaat for those who come from different parts of the world, so that they wear the Ihraam from those places.

 

There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari:

 

Translation: It has been narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with them), he says that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) decreed Dhul Hulaifah as the Meeqaat for Madina, for those who come from Syria, the Johfa, for those who come from Najd, it is Qarn Ul Manaazil and for those who come from Yemen, Yalamlam. (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 1526)

 

There is a Hadith in Sahih Muslim:

 

Translation: For those who come from Iraq, the Meeqaat is Dhaat ‘Irq.  (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2867)

 

There are 4 Meeqaat around the Ka’aba:

 

(1)  For those who come from Madina, “Dhul Hulaifa”.

 

(2)  “Johfa” for those come from Egypt and Syria.

 

(3)  “Qarn” for those who come from Najd.

 

(4)  “Yalamlam” for those who come from Yemen, Hindustan, Pakistan and such areas.

 

(5)  “Dhaat ‘Irq” for those who come from Iraq.

 

Which Haj for those living in Jeddah

 

For those who live in Makkah and within the Meeqaat, there is only Haj Ifrad.  They cannot perform Haj Tamattu’ or Haj Qiran.  Jeddah is within the Meeqaat.  Someone living in Jeddah cannot perform Haj Qiran or Haj Tammatu’.

 

If a person lives in Makkah and goes to Jeddah for work, then he will be considered as a native of Makkah only.  When that person is performing Haj, he should perform Haj Ifrad only.  As given in Fatawa A’alamgiri, Kitab Ul Manasik.

 

If a resident of Makkah goes into the boundaries of Hill but does not go beyond the Meeqaat and there is no intention of ‘Umrah while coming to Makkah, then there is no intention to wear Ihraam now itself, the way those who live in Hill can come to Makkah without Ihraam.  On the contrary, if a resident of Makkah goes outside the Meeqaat and is returning to Makkah, then it is necessary for him/her to wear the Ihraam.  For a resident, Haj Tamattu’ and Haj Qiran are forbidden.  He/she should only perform Haj Ifrad.

 

Thus, if someone lives in the boundaries of Makkah and wants to perform Haj, then that person can go outside the boundaries of Makkah, but cannot go beyond Meeqaat.  If one does go beyond Meeqaat, then they have to wear Ihraam and come.

 

Wearing Ihraam at Tan‘eem

 

If those people live in Makkah or those Aafaqi (who live within the borders of the Haramain) who have reached Makkah want to perform ‘Umrah, then the Meeqaat for them is Hill.  They can go outside and tie Ihram from any part of Hill.  However, it is better (Afdhal) to tie it from J‘iraniya or Tan‘eem where Masjid ‘Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her) is situated, as given in Fatawa A’alamgiri.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had asked Hadhrat ‘Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) to tie her Ihram at Tan‘eem, but this command is not for women only.  It is the same for men and women.

 

Entering Makkah without Ihraam

 

If those people live in Makkah or those Aafaqi (who live within the borders of the Haramain) who have reached Makkah want to perform ‘Umrah, then the Meeqaat for them is Hill.  They can go outside and tie Ihram from any part of Hill.  However, it is better (Afdhal) to tie it from Ja’araniya or Tan‘eem where Masjid ‘Aisha (May Allah be well pleased with her) is situated, as given in Fatawa A’alamgiri.

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) had asked Hadhrat ‘Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her) to tie her Ihram at Tan‘eem, but this command is not for women only.  It is the same for men and women.

 

What to do if the Haji is stopped on the way to Makkah

 

If any person wears the Ihram and starts for Makkah Mukarramah, but for some reason cannot enter Makkah Mukarramah and he/she could not perform Umrah, then the Shariah ruling for such a person is that he (or she) should make somebody the representative and that person should perform Qurbani in Makkah on behalf of that person.  When the Qurbani has been performed, then that person should perform Halaq and then open the Ihram.  Later, as per convenience, the Qaza of the Umrah should be performed.  As given in the Holy Quran:

 

And complete the Hajj or ‘Umrah in the service of Allah. But if ye are prevented (from completing it) send an offering for sacrifice, such as ye may find and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches the place of sacrifice. And if any of you is ill or has an ailment in his scalp, (necessitating shaving) (he should) in compensation either fast, or feed the poor, or offer sacrifice; and when ye are in peaceful conditions (again) if anyone wishes to continue the ‘Umrah on to the Hajj, he must make an offering such as he can afford, but if he cannot afford it, he should fast three days during the Hajj and seven days on his return making ten days in all. This is for those whose household is not in (the precincts of) the Sacred Mosque. And fear Allah, and know that Allah is strict in punishment. (196) Surah Baqarah (2:196)

 

There is a Hadith in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaiba:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Yazeed (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said that we started with the intention of Umrah.  When we reached “Dhat Us Suquf,” one of our fellow travelers was bitten by a snake.  We stopped on the way to find out the ruling here.  Hadhrat Abdullah bin Mas‘ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) was also present in the caravan.  When we told him that one of our friends was bitten by a snake, then Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Mas‘ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) said: You decide with your friends a common day for Qurbani, so that your friend may send an animal.  When the Qurbani is performed, then your friend may remove the Ihram and the Qaza of the Umrah remains (outstanding) for your friend.  (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaiba, Kitab Ul Haj)

 

And Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) knows best.

 

Mufti Hafidh Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri

 

[Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia,

Founder/Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center]