Where to wear the Ihram?
Miqat is a term used in Islam to refer to specific places where Muslims are required to perform a ritual purification, known as ihram, before undertaking the pilgrimage to Mecca, known as the Hajj or the Umrah. Ritual purification involves a state of consecration in which certain activities and behaviors are prohibited, such as wearing certain types of clothing or engaging in sexual activity. There are five designated Miqats, which are located at various points along the routes to Mecca and are intended to be convenient for people coming from different directions. These five Miqats are:
1. Dhul-Hulaifa, located near Madinah in Saudi Arabia, for those coming from the direction of Medina.
2. Al-Juhfa, located in present-day Syria, for those coming from the direction of Syria and the Levant.
3. Qarn al-Manāzil, located near Ta’if in Saudi Arabia, for those coming from the direction of Yemen.
4. Yalamlam, located in present-day Yemen, for those coming from the direction of the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
5. Dhat Irq, located near present-day Kuwait, for those coming from the direction of Iraq and the Persian Gulf.
It is important to note that the ritual purification at a Miqat is a requirement only for those who are physically able to perform the Hajj or the Umrah, and it is not necessary for other Muslims to observe this practice.
