The Miqat Boundaries
Miqat Guide
The five Miqat points, who uses each, and precisely when to enter Ihram on a flight from Pakistan.
The Five Mawaqit
Where Ihram Begins
The Miqat is the boundary at which a pilgrim must enter Ihram. The Prophet ο·Ί fixed five Miqat points around Makkah, one for each direction of arrival.
| Miqat | For pilgrims coming from | Approx. distance |
|---|---|---|
| Dhul-Hulayfah (Abyar Ali) | People of Madinah & those arriving via Madinah | ~450 km N of Makkah |
| Al-Juhfah (near Rabigh) | People of Syria, Egypt & the Maghreb | ~190 km NW |
| Qarn al-Manazil (As-Sayl) | People of Najd & the east | ~75 km E |
| Yalamlam | People of Yemen & many flights from the south | ~100 km S |
| Dhat Irq | People of Iraq & the northeast | ~90 km NE |
A pilgrim takes the Miqat on their route. Anyone living inside the Miqat boundaries (including residents of Jeddah) makes Ihram from their own location.
Flying from Pakistan
Ihram in the Air
Most pilgrims from Pakistan fly into Jeddah or Madinah. If you fly directly to Jeddah, your aircraft crosses the Miqat (in the Yalamlam / Qarn direction) roughly an hour before landing. Enter Ihram before that point — it is safest to make Ihram at your departure airport or on boarding, and to make the intention when the crew announce the approach to the Miqat.
If you fly to Madinah first, you are not yet in Ihram; you make Ihram later from Dhul-Hulayfah (Abyar Ali) when you travel from Madinah to Makkah.
Jeddah airport itself is not a Miqat for those coming from outside its boundary — entering Ihram only after landing in Jeddah is a common and serious mistake that may require a fidyah.
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
You should return to the Miqat and enter Ihram there if possible. If you proceed and enter Ihram past the boundary, most scholars require a fidyah (sacrifice). Avoid this by making Ihram before the Miqat.
From Dhul-Hulayfah (Abyar Ali), the Miqat for those travelling from Madinah to Makkah. Your group leader will stop there.
Yes, it is permissible to enter Ihram from home or the airport before the flight; many pilgrims do so to avoid changing on the plane. You then simply maintain the Ihram state until you reach Makkah.
Related Umrah planning: For better planning, compare Umrah packing list, review first-time Umrah guide, check Umrah packages from Pakistan, and read current Umrah costs in Pakistan before confirming your booking.
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