Assuming Ihram from Jeddah is a subject of significant discussion among Islamic jurists, particularly concerning pilgrims traveling by air who may unknowingly pass the designated Miqat (boundary) such as Yalamlam. This issue frequently affects travelers from Southeast Asia (e.g., Indonesia) whose flight paths often cross the Miqat shortly before landing. This article explores the rulings on assuming Ihram from Jeddah and the necessary steps for rectification if a mistake is made.
Parallel to the Miqat
The standard view held by the majority of scholars is that a pilgrim must enter the state of Ihram before crossing the Miqat. For those traveling by air, this means assuming Ihram when the plane is parallel to the specific boundary (e.g., Yalamlam for those coming from the south/east).
If a pilgrim adheres to this traditional opinion but delays assuming Ihram until landing in Jeddah, they are considered to have bypassed the Miqat without Ihram.
The Penalty (Dam): According to this view, passing the Miqat without Ihram requires expiation. The penalty is the slaughtering of a sacrificial animal (Dam), such as a sheep or goat. This sacrifice must be performed within the precincts of the Haram in Makkah and distributed to the poor there. It can be done personally upon a return visit or by delegating someone in Makkah to do it on the pilgrim’s behalf.
Jeddah as a Miqat for Air Travelers
In response to the difficulties posed by modern air travel—where planes pass boundaries in minutes—some contemporary Muslim scholars have offered a different perspective. They hold the opinion that it is permissible for air travelers to delay assuming Ihram until they reach Jeddah.
This ruling is based on the principle of removing hardship (Raf’ al-Haraj). Since identifying the exact moment of being parallel to the Miqat in the air can be difficult, and preparing for Ihram on a crowded plane is often challenging, these scholars consider Jeddah a valid starting point for those arriving by air.
Determining the Validity of Past Actions
For pilgrims who have previously assumed Ihram from Jeddah and are concerned about the validity of their Hajj or Umrah, scholars present two choices:
- Adopting the Strict View: If the pilgrim chooses to follow the strict opinion that Jeddah is not a valid Miqat, they are required to offer a Dam (sacrifice) in Makkah for the past mistake.
- Adopting the Lenient View: If they choose to follow the opinion of contemporary scholars who permit assuming Ihram from Jeddah for air travelers, their worship is considered valid, and no penalty is owed.
Scholars often advise adopting the second opinion to avoid undue burden, confirming that there is nothing wrong with the worship of those who acted upon this view.
