WSID? Can I Enter the State of Ihram from the City of Jeddah?

1. Details about the situation

Yusuf is 33 years old and traveling from New York to the Arabian Peninsula to perform his first Hajj.

During the journey, the flight attendant announces that they will be landing in Jeddah shortly.

Yusuf suddenly remembers something he heard in a lecture and begins to question the boundary at which he is supposed to enter the state of ihram. He looks around and notices that some passengers are already in ihram garments, while others are not. 

Confused, he wonders, “Can I just put on ihram once I land in Jeddah? Or have I missed something important?”

2. Background

For Hajj and Umrah, entering the state of ihram must take place at specific designated boundaries called miqat. These locations are fixed in Islamic law, and anyone intending to perform the rituals must not pass them without entering ihram.

In modern travel, many pilgrims arrive directly in Jeddah by plane. This leads to confusion about when and where ihram can be assumed. This is further complicated by the fact that train services do not run directly to the miqat location, and that other legal schools may enter into the state of ihram as they fly above the determined locations.

3. Ruling

According to Sayyid Sistani:

• Jeddah is neither a miqāt nor parallel to any miqāt, so it is not valid to enter ihram from there for Hajj or Umrah.
• A pilgrim must enter ihram before crossing a miqat boundary.

According to numerous ahadith,  jurists have deduced that there are 5 miqāt locations as indicated by the Prophet (pbuh) for pilgrims entering Mecca. For most travelers coming from North America, there are two common miqāt points:

• Masjid Al Shajara (also known as Dhul Hulayfah):
  • used by pilgrims coming from Medina
  • approximately 7 km from the city of Medina on the way to Makkah
• Masjid Al Juhfah: 
  • Used by pilgrims who are going straight to Mecca from Jeddah
  • Approximately 190 km to the northwest of Mecca

As entering into the state of ihram is a religious obligation, the believer has several options to consider:

• If a person identifies a location between Jeddah and the Haram that is parallel to a miqāt (such as Juhfah), they may enter ihram from there.
• This is done by making a nadhr, or a vow/commitment in the name of God, to enter ihram at that specific point.
• Or, by making a nadhr from your town upon traveling in the name of God to enter ihram if you arrive at Jeddah airport safely.

4. Action

After landing, Yusuf speaks with a knowledgeable guide from the Ithna Ashari school of thought. He explains that he should not simply enter ihram from Jeddah.

He advises him to make a nadhr to enter ihram at a point on the way to Mecca that is considered parallel to a miqat (commonly aligned with Juhfah), and then to assume ihram from there or, by making a nadhr from his hometown to enter into ihram, assuming he were to arrive at Jeddah airport. 

Yusuf follows this guidance carefully and makes the intention, “I make a vow to God that I will wear my Ihram from Jeddah airport.” Upon his arrival and preparation for Hajj, he feels both relieved and more aware of the importance of learning these rulings in advance.