Informational summary, not a religious ruling. Where the schools of law differ, both positions are named. For anything affecting the validity of your Hajj, ask a qualified scholar or your group's guide.
Where your ihram begins
The mawaqit are fixed boundaries around Makkah. Cross one intending pilgrimage without having entered ihram and you owe either a return to the boundary or a sacrifice. Which one applies to you depends on the direction you arrive from, not on your nationality.
| Miqat | Also called | Serves | From Makkah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhul Hulayfah | Abyar Ali | Madinah, and those arriving through it | ~410 km from Makkah |
| Al-Juhfah | Rabigh in practice | Egypt, the Levant, North Africa and Europe by land | ~190 km |
| Qarn al-Manazil | As-Sayl al-Kabir | Najd and Taif | ~90 km |
| Yalamlam | As-Sa‘diyah | Yemen, and much of South and Southeast Asia arriving by sea or air from the south | ~100 km |
| Dhat ‘Irq | · | Iraq and Iran | ~85 km |
Pilgrims flying into Jeddah or Madinah cross their miqat in the air. The practical consequence is that ihram is entered before boarding, or on the aircraft when the crew announce the crossing, not on landing. Missing it is one of the most common errors among first-time pilgrims, and it is why the band gives a haptic warning as the miqat boundary is crossed.
What ihram restricts
Ihram is a state, not a garment. These restrictions begin the moment you make the intention and last until it is lifted.
- No stitched or fitted clothingMen onlyWomen wear ordinary modest clothing throughout.
- No covering the headMenWomen cover the head as normal but do not wear a fitted face veil.
- No perfume or scented productsEveryoneIncluding scented soap, deodorant and wet wipes. Unscented alternatives are widely sold at the mawaqit.
- No cutting hair or nailsEveryoneHair that falls out on its own is not a violation.
- No hunting or killing gameEveryoneHarmful animals and insects are excepted.
- No marriage contract or proposalEveryone
- No intimacyEveryoneThe most serious of the restrictions. Violation before Arafah invalidates the Hajj.
- No arguing or obscenityEveryoneExplicitly named in the Qur’an in connection with Hajj.