Entering Makkah intending to perform `Umrah (lesser-Hajj) takes the same ruling as that of the Makkans

22/10/2012| IslamWeb

Question

I live in Jeddah and have daughters who live in Makkah. Sometimes I visit them and stay in Makkah for a week or two. I am now in Makkah and want to perform ‘Umrah so should I return to Jeddah to assume Ihraam or just do the same as the people of Makkah?

Fatwa

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

If you want to assume Ihraam (ritual consecration) when you are in Jeddah, then your Meeqaat (point at which the rites are initiated) is the same town which you are in. This is based on the statement of the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention) as he explained the locations of the Meeqaats: "…And whoever is living within these boundaries can assume Ihraam from the place where he decides (to perform Hajj or ‘Umrah)". [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]

Thus, if you came to Makkah with no intention of performing ‘Umrah or came to it intending ‘Umrah, stayed for some time and then wanted to assume Ihraam for ‘Umrah while still there, then the ruling of Ihraam of the people of Makkah is applicable to you. Hence, you have to go to a place outside the sacred precincts of Makkah, be it At-Tan‘eem or any other place, and assume Ihraam for ‘Umrah from there. You do not have to return to Jeddah because, in such a case as you mentioned, the ruling of the people of Makkah applies to you.

Allah Knows best.