It is the location
at which to invoke the intention. Invoking the intention at the Maqani Meeqat
is one of the obligatory rites of the hajj and ‘Umrah. It means delineating the
location which is not to be traversed by those coming from outside, who wishes
to perform the hajj or ‘Umrah, except where if they had invoked the intention
for hajj or ‘Umrah, at or before the specified location.
There are five
such places as related by Ibnu Abbas R.A. : which the Prophet (S.A.W) had
determined for the residents of:
·
Medina:
At
Zulhulaifah (now known as Bir
Ali).
·
Sayyam:
The
Place of Jufah (Also renowned as
Jordan, Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon).
·
Najed:
At
Qarnul Manazil (Najad is now
known as Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh)
·
Yaman:
At
Yalamlam (South of Makkah)
·
Iraq: At Zatul Irqin
1.
Meeqat for
residents outside Makkah
·
The locations of ihram for
residents from these countries have been determined, such as residents of
Madinah who embark on the hajj and Umrah is obligated to ihram at Zulhulaifah.
·
For residents of other countries
who pass through the country mentioned, their Meeqat is the same. For example, Pilgrims
coming from Singapore to Madinah, and afterward wish to advance for the hajj or
‘Umrah, are obligated to ihram at Zulhulaifah (Bir ali), the Meeqat for Madinah
residents.
·
For residents of other countries
without a Meeqat and who do not pass through locations with a Meeqat, their
location of ihram is aligned to the above deliberated Meeqat locations. For
instance, Singapore pilgrims proceeding directly to Makkah for the hajj and
Umrah, before landing in Jeddah, will be passing through the region which is in
line with the stated Meeqat locations, they are obligated to be in the state of
ihram at the time they pass through these locations.
·
For residents of locations which
are in between the Meeqat and Makkah, then their Meeqat for the hajj and Umrah
is in front of their houses, such as those who live in a location between Makkah
and Zulhulaifah.
2. Meeqat for Makkah
residents and foreigners living in Makkah
·
The Hajj Meeqat for Makkah
residents and foreigners living in Makkah is in front of their house.
·
The Umrah Meeqat is the
halal land (permissible precinct) surrounding Makkah, such as Ji’ranah and
Tana’im. Whoever is in Makkah , be they resident or foreigner, if they wish to
invoke the intention for ‘Umrah, it is obligatory for them to do so from
outside the sacred precinct, regardless of where it may be, as long as it is
outside the sacred precinct, and perform the sunnah solat for ihram. But in
case he does not summon the intention until he re-enters the holy zone, and
then he invokes it, it is then mandatory for him to pay the settle the dam, for
transgressing the Meeqat.
