Roberta Aguirre
There are differing opinions on whether a pilgrim can wear ihram at Jeddah Airport. Some scholars believe that air travellers should assume ihram before landing in Jeddah as they will fly over the miqat before landing. However, if this is not possible, a pilgrim can wear ihram at the airport, although they will then have to travel to the nearest miqat, which is al-Juhfah (Rabigh), about 100 miles away, or perform an animal sacrifice (Damm).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can I buy Ihram at Jeddah Airport? | Yes, it is possible to buy Ihram at Jeddah Airport. However, it is not advisable as wearing Ihram at Jeddah Airport is considered a violation. |
| Where to wear Ihram | It is recommended to wear Ihram before landing in Jeddah or at the airport of departure. |
| Miqat locations | al-Juhfah (Rabigh), Qarn al-Manazil (Taif), Dhat Irq, Yalamlam, Dhu'l-Hulayfah, al-Hil, Masjid al-Hudaibiyah, Masjid Aisha |
| Nearest Miqat to Jeddah | al-Juhfah (Rabigh), about 160 km (100 miles) away |
| Alternative options | Wear Ihram at the designated Miqat, perform an animal sacrifice (Damm), or travel to the nearest Miqat. |
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What You'll Learn
- It is recommended to wear Ihram before landing in Jeddah
- Some scholars consider Jeddah as a Miqat for air travellers
- If you are travelling from Europe or North America, you may find it difficult to wear Ihram before landing in Jeddah
- If you are unable to wear Ihram before landing in Jeddah, you must travel to the nearest Miqat
- If you are travelling with children, consider arriving at Medinah airport instead
It is recommended to wear Ihram before landing in Jeddah
While it is possible to wear Ihram at Jeddah Airport, it is inconvenient as it is a long distance from the airport to Miqat. If a pilgrim enters into Ihram at Jeddah Airport, they must then travel to the nearest Miqat, which is al-Juhfah (Rabigh), about 160 kilometres away. It is also possible to perform an animal sacrifice (Damm) as expiation.
Therefore, it is advisable to wear Ihram before landing in Jeddah, especially if you are travelling from a Middle Eastern country, as most airports in the region have facilities for preparing for Ihram before boarding. If you are travelling from Europe or North America, you may experience difficulties in doing so and may follow the ruling of some scholars who consider Jeddah as a Miqat for air travellers, as they reason that flying over Miqat does not constitute passing through it.
If you are travelling to Makkah via Jeddah, it is recommended to change into Ihram at home or at the airport before departure. The flight crew should announce when Miqat is approaching, and it is recommended to wear Ihram at this point, about 30 to 45 minutes before landing.
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Some scholars consider Jeddah as a Miqat for air travellers
The standard view among scholars is that air travellers should assume Ihram before landing in Jeddah as they will fly over the Miqat before landing. This is relatively easy to do if travelling from Middle Eastern countries, as most airports have facilities for travellers to prepare for Ihram before boarding the plane. However, travellers from Europe or North America may face difficulties.
Some eminent scholars consider Jeddah as a Miqat for air travellers. They reason that while flying, one does not technically pass through the Miqat. The Prophet (peace be upon him) demonstrated that by Miqat, he meant a station for pilgrims to rest and prepare before embarking on Ihram.
According to some sources, if a pilgrim intends to perform Umrah, they must enter Ihram from the Miqat they pass by, and it is not permissible to enter Ihram from Jeddah, as it is within the Miqat boundary. However, if one enters Ihram from Jeddah and then comes to Makkah, they must offer a sacrifice in expiation, but their Umrah is still considered valid.
If a traveller is visiting Jeddah for reasons other than Umrah, such as business or tourism, they may enter into Ihram in Jeddah or before crossing the boundary of the Haram. If they decide to perform Umrah after entering Makkah, they must assume Ihram at the boundary of the Haram.
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If you are travelling from Europe or North America, you may find it difficult to wear Ihram before landing in Jeddah
The standard view among scholars is that air travellers should assume Ihram before landing in Jeddah as they will fly over the Miqat before landing. This is relatively easy to do if you are travelling from Middle Eastern countries, as most airports have facilities for you to prepare yourself for Ihram before boarding the plane. However, if you are travelling from Europe or North America, you may find it difficult to wear Ihram before landing in Jeddah. This is because you will have to change into Ihram on the plane, which can be challenging due to limited space.
In such cases, you may follow the ruling of some eminent scholars who consider Jeddah as a Miqat for air travellers. Their reasoning is that while flying, you are not actually passing through the Miqat. The Prophet set the example that by Miqat, he meant a station for pilgrims to halt, recuperate, and make preparations before embarking on Ihram. Therefore, if wearing Ihram before boarding or on the plane poses difficulties, you may do so in Jeddah.
If you are travelling from Europe or North America and wish to wear Ihram before landing in Jeddah, here are some recommendations:
- Keep your Ihram garments in your hand luggage for easy access.
- Change into Ihram during a stopover, if possible, before boarding the connecting flight to Saudi Arabia. International airports often have prayer rooms and bathrooms that can facilitate this.
- If you are flying with an Islamic airline, they may be able to assist you in the process.
- Plan ahead and change into your garments about an hour before the Miqat to avoid queues and stress.
It is important to note that changing into Ihram after landing in Jeddah without having entered the state of Ihram in the air is generally not allowed and may require a penalty or animal sacrifice (Damm). However, some scholars argue that if you make your intention and recite Talbiyah in-flight, you may delay wearing the Ihram garments until you arrive at Jeddah, as long as you are only adjusting your clothing.
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If you are unable to wear Ihram before landing in Jeddah, you must travel to the nearest Miqat
The standard view among scholars is that travellers should assume Ihram before landing in Jeddah, as they will fly over the Miqat before landing. However, if you are unable to wear Ihram before landing in Jeddah, you must travel to the nearest Miqat. The nearest Miqat to Jeddah is al-Juhfah (Rabigh), which is about 160 kilometres (100 miles) away. Alternatively, an animal sacrifice (Damm) should be carried out as expiation.
If you are travelling from a European country or North America directly, you may experience difficulties in assuming Ihram before landing in Jeddah. In this case, you may follow the ruling of some eminent scholars who consider Jeddah as a Miqat for air travellers. Their reasoning is that while flying, you are not actually passing through the Miqat.
It is important to note that wearing Ihram at Jeddah airport is considered a violation of Ihram, and you should only do so if you are a resident of Jeddah or travelling to Jeddah with another intention, such as business or tourism.
If you are unable to wear Ihram before landing in Jeddah, you can still perform Ihram on the way to Mecca. There are Miqat mosques located between Jeddah and Mecca, or Medina and Mecca, where you can change into Ihram. However, some scholars state that if you pass by a Miqat without wearing Ihram, you must return to it and enter Ihram from there.
It is advisable to plan ahead and wear Ihram before departure or during a stopover if possible, as it can be inconvenient and troublesome to wear Ihram at Jeddah airport or during the flight.
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If you are travelling with children, consider arriving at Medinah airport instead
If you are travelling with children, consider arriving at Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Al Madinah Al-Munawarah instead of Jeddah Airport. The distance from the airport to your hotel is less than a 25-minute drive, which is much more convenient if you have small children. This is especially true if you are travelling with baby equipment, as you can check in two items of baby equipment per child (e.g. a pushchair and a car seat) free of charge.
Another benefit of arriving in Medinah with children is that the Haramain train can transport you to Makkah in around 2.5 hours, which is much faster than travelling by road. If you are travelling by road, be aware that the minimum connection time for passengers holding Umrah visas on international flights within King Khalid in Riyadh is 3 hours.
If you are travelling with children under 18 who are not your own, or who do not share your surname, you may be asked about your relationship to the child at the airport. This is to safeguard against child trafficking.
It is also worth noting that, if you are wearing Ihram, you can enter into this state in Medinah, or at the designated Miqat for Medinah, Masjid Dhul Hulayfah.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can buy Ihram at Jeddah Airport. However, it is recommended to wear Ihram before arriving at Jeddah Airport, as the airport is the nearest Miqat (a boundary that marks the start of Hajj or Umrah) and you will need to wear it before crossing the Miqat.
You can buy Ihram at the airport of your departure country, on the plane, or at a hotel.
If you don't want to wear Ihram on the plane, you can wear it at Jeddah Airport. However, you will then need to travel to Miqat, which is about 160 kilometres away from Jeddah Airport.
Miqat is a boundary that marks the start of Hajj or Umrah. It is the place where pilgrims put on Ihram and make their intentions for Hajj or Umrah.
