Question:
for entering into ihram for ‘Umrah, mostly five boundaries (miqats) are mentioned. Jirranah is a boundary of the Haram, not a miqat. Many people enter into ihram for another ‘Umrah from there. Is this correct? If it is correct, can one enter into ihram from all the boundaries of the Haram? Also, some say that the ruling related to the place of ‘Aishah Mosque applies only to menstruating women, and that others must go outside the miqat. It is confusing, needs clarification.
Answer:
those who go for Hajj or those who go for ‘Umrah—what should they do? They must enter Makkah in the state called ihram. What is ihram? It is making an intention and wearing a particular garment, like saying takbir with intention—there is a Sunnah method for it. If someone is going for Hajj or ‘Umrah to the Ka‘bah, when entering that boundary, they must make the intention: “I have come for Hajj” or “I have come for ‘Umrah.” There is a ruling that this intention must be made before entering Makkah.
For people coming from different directions, the Messengerﷺ of Allahﷻ fixed certain boundaries. For example, if we go from India, for us a place called Yalamlam is fixed. That is, for those coming from Yemen and those coming through Yemen, there is a place called Yalamlam, which is far from Makkah. When reaching Yalamlam, one must enter in ihram before proceeding further. Each group has its assigned miqat.
The miqat is for those who do not belong to Makkah and who come from other towns or countries for Hajj or ‘Umrah. The Prophetﷺ specified certain points on their routes. At those places, they must wear ihram and enter.
But those living in Makkah do not need to go to those distant miqats. The rule of miqat applies to those coming from outside Makkah. For those coming from other places, whichever route they take has a miqat assigned. At that miqat, they say “Labbayk Hajj” or “Labbayk ‘Umrah” and enter into ihram.
What about residents of Makkah? If someone living in Makkah wants to perform Hajj, he can do so from Makkah itself. But if he wants to perform ‘Umrah, what is the rule? There is a boundary called the Haram boundary. It is marked—often shown with green lights. If he goes outside that Haram boundary, even a little distance, and then re-enters intending ‘Umrah, he must enter in ihram when coming back inside. He cannot initiate ihram for ‘Umrah while remaining inside the Haram. This is the rule for Makkah residents.
So Makkah residents often go to places like Ji‘ranah or Tan‘im (where ‘Aishah entered into ihram) and then enter in ihram from there. They do not need to go all the way to Yalamlam or other distant miqats. Those five miqats are for people coming from outside regions.
For residents, the miqat is the Haram boundary. They must go outside the Haram boundary and then re-enter in ihram.
This applies not only to original Makkah residents but also to outsiders who came for other reasons. For example, if someone came to Makkah for business, not for Hajj or ‘Umrah, and after finishing business he decides, “Let me also perform ‘Umrah,” then he must go outside the Haram boundary and re-enter in ihram. He becomes like a Makkah resident in this ruling.
The Prophetﷺ ﷺ once entered into ihram from Ji‘ranah. Why? Because he had not gone originally for ‘Umrah; he had gone for battle (the conquest of Makkah and then Hunayn). After returning and distributing the spoils, he decided to perform ‘Umrah. Since he was inside Makkah, he went outside the Haram boundary to Ji‘ranah, entered into ihram there, and came back. Ji‘ranah is outside the Haram boundary; it is not one of the distant miqats. For residents, going outside the Haram boundary is sufficient.
So there is no confusion. The miqat for Makkah residents is different from that of outsiders. Outsiders must enter ihram at the assigned distant miqats. Residents or those already inside Makkah must go outside the Haram boundary and re-enter.
If someone performs one ‘Umrah and wants to do another, he must again go outside the Haram boundary, enter into ihram, and return. If he wants to do ten times, he must go out and return each time.