Place where a person who is in Makkah should enter the state of Ihraam for Umrah

QUESTION:

I have already completed Umrah. Now I am in Makkah and I want to perform another Umrah. From where should I enter the state of Ihraam?

Answer:

There are certain points that those who are going for Hajj or Umrah should not cross without being in the state of Ihraam. These points are called Meeqaat. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) has set Zul Hulaifah as Meeqaat for the inhabitants of Madina. Juhfah for those living in Shaam, Qarn-ul-Manaazil for the inhabitants of Najd and Yalamlam for those of Yemen. These points serve as Meeqaat for all other people who cross these places. Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) also said that those who are within the Meeqaat will enter the state of Ihraam in the place where they are, to such an extent that those who are in Makkah, will enter the state of Ihraam in Makkah itself.

According to this Hadith, it appears that a person who is in Makkah has the right to enter the state of Ihraam for his Umrah in Makkah itself just as it is allowed for Hajj. But it is also true that Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) had sent Hazrat 'Aisha (Radiyallahu Anha) with her brother to enter in the state of Ihraam from At-Tan'im which is known as Masjid 'Aisha nowadays, in order to replace the 'Umrah that she could not accomplish before Hajj. That is why the 'Ulama say that a person in Makkah can enter in the state of Ihraam for Hajj from Makkah but for Umrah, he must go out of Makkah to enter in the state of Ihraam. Out of Makkah means the area that is found between the Meeqaat and the boundaries of Haram which is called Hill Sagheer. It suffices that a person comes out to any point that is found within this parameter. But the 'Ulama prefer Masjid 'Aisha because Nabi (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) had sent Hazrat 'Aisha (Radiyallahu Anha) there. To go out of Meeqaat to enter in the state of Ihraam will be even better. In short, one will have to go out of Makkah to enter in the state of Ihraam for Umrah. And it is more practical to do so from Masjid 'Aisha.

[English version of "Place cote ene dimoune ki dans Makkah pou re attache so Ihraam pou Oumrah" – Al Jamiat – Vol.6 No.3]