What is a miqat, where are the five miqat, and when do you enter ihram if you are flying in from London, Paris, Frankfurt or Cairo? A clear table, step-by-step ihram on the plane, and what to know about Jeddah.
A miqat is the boundary that a pilgrim intending Umrah must not cross without being in ihram. The Prophet ﷺ set five miqat for people coming from outside Makkah. But today most pilgrims arrive by air, so the practical question becomes: when do I make my intention at 35,000 feet? What if my flight goes to Madinah first? Can I enter ihram in Jeddah? This guide sets out the five miqat in one table, then explains entering ihram on a plane step by step for pilgrims flying in from the UK, Europe and Egypt.
What is a miqat?
There are two kinds of miqat: the time miqat (Umrah can be performed all year round) and the place miqat, the spot where you enter ihram. The five place miqat serve the people who live beyond them and anyone passing through them. Anyone who lives inside the miqat boundary enters ihram from home, and people in Makkah go just outside the sacred precinct, usually to Al-Tan’im, to enter ihram for Umrah. Anyone who passes a miqat, or flies level with it, while intending Umrah must enter ihram before crossing it.
The five miqat for Umrah
The five miqat at a glance
Distances to Makkah are approximate
Where do you enter ihram if you are flying in?
If you are flying into Jeddah: flights from the UK, Europe, Turkey, Egypt and North Africa usually pass level with the Al-Juhfah miqat before landing, so you enter ihram on the plane before you reach Jeddah. Most airlines announce when the aircraft is level with the miqat, but do not rely on the announcement alone: ask the crew for the approximate time, and it is safest to make your intention a little before that point. If you are flying into Madinah first: do not enter ihram on the plane. Stay in Madinah, then enter ihram at Dhul Hulayfah when you set off for Makkah. If you are coming overland from the Gulf: your miqat is As-Sayl al-Kabir or Wadi Muhram. Our guide to Umrah flights from the UK compares direct and connecting routes.
How to enter ihram on a plane
1. Bathe and freshen up at home or at the airport before you travel; men may apply perfume to the body, not to the ihram clothes. 2. Put on the ihram garments before take-off, or carry them in your hand luggage and change on board in good time before the miqat, since the toilets get busy before landing. 3. Do not make your intention yet: wearing the clothes alone is not ihram. 4. When the plane is level with the miqat, or just before, make your intention in your heart and say Labbayka Allahumma ‘Umrah. If you fear something may stop you, add fa in habasani habisun fa mahilli haythu habastani. 5. Begin the talbiyah, and observe the ihram restrictions from that moment. Women enter ihram in their normal modest clothing, without a face veil or gloves. For the exact words at each stage, see our Umrah duas step by step.
Can you enter ihram in Jeddah?
Jeddah lies inside the miqat boundary. Someone who lives there, or who came for work or a visit and only then decided to perform Umrah, enters ihram from Jeddah. But a traveller arriving from abroad already intending Umrah passes the miqat in the air before reaching Jeddah, and most scholars hold that they must enter ihram before crossing it. Many scholars, including Sheikh Ibn Baz, have ruled that someone who passed it and then entered ihram in Jeddah owes a sacrifice (dam). If this has happened to you, ask a scholar you trust about your case.
Pre-flight checklist
Pack your ihram in your hand luggage, not your checked bag. Take unscented products: soap, deodorant and wipes. Bring an ihram belt and open sandals. Have your Umrah permit ready in the Nusuk app. Check whether you are flying into Jeddah or Madinah so you know when to enter ihram. If you are travelling with elderly parents, choose a hotel close to the Haram so you can perform Umrah soon after arrival without exhaustion. See Makkah hotels near the Haram, Umrah packages from the UK and Umrah packages from Germany. Use our Umrah checklist and packing list so nothing is forgotten.
Miqat: frequently asked questions
Which miqat is closest to Jeddah airport?
Flights from the north and north-west usually pass level with Al-Juhfah; flights from the south and east may pass Yalamlam or Qarn al-Manazil. What matters is entering ihram before the first miqat your flight passes.
Can I enter ihram before the miqat?
Ihram before the miqat is valid, although the Sunnah is to enter it at the miqat or when level with it. There is nothing wrong with a flying pilgrim making the intention a little early as a precaution.
What comes after ihram?
After ihram you head to Makkah for tawaf, then sa’i, then shaving or trimming. Choose your dates with our guide to the best time for Umrah. If this is your first Umrah, our guide on how to perform Umrah step by step walks you through each rite. Our guide to ziyarat in Makkah and Madinah lists the historic sites to visit, in order.
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