Meeqat is an Arabic word, and the literal meaning is “a stated place’ or ‘appointed time.’ The Miqat is a specific place with a geographical boundary; no one who intends to perform Umrah or Hajj can pass the boundary of Miqat without being in the state of Ihram. It was the specific station established by the Prophet Muhammad PBUH that whoever has made the pure intentions to perform Umrah ought to enter the state of purity by wearing Ihram before they proceed towards the Holy Kaaba in Mecca. The Miqat boundary holds deep significance as it serves as a spiritual, psychological, and physical boundary that reminds pilgrims to forget all worldly issues behind and mainly focus on the Holy Umrah.
Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH designated four points as Miqat where the Umrah pilgrims or hajjis intend to perform Umrah before entering the boundary of Makkah. The fifth Miqat point was set during the reign of Caliph Umar RA to accommodate the travelers from the new regions.
The Classifications of Miqat
The Miqat checkpoints are established at five different points. All these Miqat are spiritual checkpoints for the pilgrims travelling to Hajj and Umrah both. The staff of Umrah flights announce in the flights when the Miqat point arrives, so the pilgrims can easily wear Ihram or make intention to perform Umrah at this point. The Umrah travelers can seek this guidance by book Umrah deals with expert Umrah handlers at Hajj Umrah Package.
Dhul-Hulaifah
The Dhul-Hulaifah Miqat is located 420 km away from Makkah. This Miqat is specific for the pilgrims coming from the city of Medina.
Al-Juhfah
The pilgrims coming from Ash-Sharm, Egypt, North Africa, Europe, and Turkey, can wear Ihram at the Al-Juhfa that is located around 187km away from Makkah.
Qarn Al-Manazil
The Umrah pilgrims arriving from the Najd, UAE, Pakistan, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and the central region of the Gulf wear Ihram for the Holy Umrah at this Miqat point. It is located 94 km east of Makkah.
Yalamlam
It is located about 120 km in south of the Holy Makkah, this is the Miqat for Umrah pilgrims travelling from Yemen and the southern regions.
Dhat Irq
The Holy travelers to fulfill Umrah obligations from Iraq and Iran wear sacred Ihram and make an intention to perform Umrah at the Miqat Dhat Irq.
The Miqat is also divided into two types based on specific location and specific time set. Therefore, depending on the temporal/time, there are two types of Miqat.
Miqat Makani
This classification of Miqat is based on the specific locations that are designated for putting on Ihram.
Miqat Zamani
The specific time to wear Ihram involves the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, when the Muslims Hajjis wear Ihram. While Umrah, there is no specific time to wear Ihram, but the Umrah pilgrims can wear Ihram anytime around the year.
The Latest Rules Related to Miqat
- Nowadays, the travellers are arriving to perform the Holy pilgrimage by air so they can wear Ihram before boarding or during their flight. They can make pure intention (Niyyah) to perform Umrah and wear Ihram on the plane. They should ensure to wear Ihram in the plane with a pure intention while it passes over the parallel Miqat according to their arrival direction.
- Crossing the Miqat boundary without making intention and wearing Ihram is a violation of the rules of the Holy Pilgrimage. The pilgrims must pay a penalty known as 'Damm'.
- The local pilgrims residing within the Miqat boundary can start their Ihram from their homes.
- The Sixth Miqat is also added as a spiritual checkpoint for pilgrims arriving from Taif.
- The residents of Makkah must have to go out of the boundary of Makkah, such as the Masjid Ayesha in Taneem, and enter the state of Ihram and return to the city for performing Umrah pilgrimage.
Misconception about Jeddah
Some UK Umrah pilgrims landing in the Jeddah during winter season consider that it is a Miqat and they wear Ihram after landing at the airports. But it is the Myth; the pilgrims should wear Ihram and make intentions before reaching Jeddah airport. Book December Umrah packages from UK that offers full guidance about Miqat points and eradicate all misconceptions about Miqat, wearing Ihram and making intention to perform Umrah.
Miqat for UK pilgrims
The Umrah pilgrims arriving from the United Kingdom to perform the Scared Umrah pilgrimage should wear Ihram at the Miqat, Al Juhfa. Most of the flights flying from the UK cross Al Juhfa Miqat before arriving at Jeddah airport. The flight attendants also announce that the plane is crossing the Miqat, so the Umrah pilgrims should wear Ihram, make intention to perform Umrah at this point. This point arrives almost 1 hour before landing at Jeddah airport.
Wear Ihram at UK Airport or Connecting Airport
It is highly recommended to avoid the inconvenience of changing Ihram in the Plane parallel to Miqat, but try to wear Ihram at the airport of the UK (London Heathrow or Gatwick) or at the stopover in a connecting flight (Dubai or Istanbul). Later pilgrims can make a pure intention and recite the Talbiyah of performing Umrah upon reaching the Miqat point.