Wearing Ihram from nearest Miqat after entering Makkah
Salam, Alhamdollilah I’m planning to perform Umrah with my mother (70+ years) and sister InshaAllah next month and traveling from Karachi to Jeddah.
My mother is physically weak and I understand that after almost a full day of travel (3 hours prior to the flight reaching the airport, then flying via Dubai/or Direct airline, then traveling to Makkah by road), she will be too tired and exhausted by after long travel and performing Umrah right after reaching Makkah would be challenging to manage (May Allah forgive me if I’m choosing wrong words).
After reaching Makkah the next day if we go to the nearest miqat outside of the Makkah for niyat and entering in the state of Ihram and then perform Umrah (I’ll be pushing her wheelchair and don’t want to hire any porter for this service), is it permissible or should we all make niyat and wear Ihram from Karachi Airport?
I had also planned to first go to Madinah and then travel to Makkah but unfortunately, flight fares are higher than Jeddah and I’m planning on a budget otherwise that would be a good option for us. I hope you understand my question and will answer soon.
Answer
Wa ‘alaykum us-salām wa-raḥmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
We pray that Allāh makes it easy for you to perform Umrah with your family. Hereunder are a few principles, before responding to your query:
1) It is not permissible for an Āfāqī (pilgrims from outside Mīqāt boundary) to cross the Mīqāt without Iḥrām. On the flight from Pakistan, pilgrims pass Mīqat before reaching Jeddah.
2) It is not essential to perform ‘Umrah as soon as one reaches Makkah. Rather, the person may rest and perform ‘Umrah once he has enough energy.
3) It is not necessary to make intention of ‘Umrah as soon as one dons the Iḥrām. Rather, a person may put on the clothes of Iḥrām, and make the intention later.
Keeping those points in mind, we advise that you put on the garments of Iḥrām at home or in Dubai. But pray the two Rakats and make the intention of ‘Umrah whilst on the flight. If you do not know when you will pass the Mīqāt, you may simply make the intention before entering Saudi Arabia. You all will only be entering into Iḥrām then, which will make it much easier. You may then commence with the Talbiyyah.
Upon reaching Makkah and booking into your hotel, take good rest. When you are fresh, you may then go to Masjid al-Ḥarām and perform the Ṭawāf.
We hereby remind you that that the magnificent reward for the blessed pilgrimage to Makkah Mukarramah is due to its being a test of patience and temperament, being a spiritual, emotional, and physical challenge for the young and the old, for the weak and the strong.
We also remind you that you should consider your respected mother at every leg of the journey. Perform the ‘Umrah according to her convenience. In shā Allāh, in this there will be more reward for you.
May Allāh accept from you all and bless you all with best of Imān, Āfiyyah and health.