Assuming Ihraam before reaching the Meeqaat is valid but disliked

21/10/2012| IslamWeb

Question

We went to perform ‘Umrah this year. We passed by the Meeqaat but didn't stop there to perform prayer because we did not know how to access it. We entered the state of Ihraam about ten kilometers before the Meeqaat. What are we required to do now?

Fatwa

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

If you passed by the Meeqaat (designated point of assuming Ihraam) while in a state of Ihraam, then your Ihraam is valid and you are not required to do anything. The prayer that is recommended by scholars to be offered for Ihraam should be performed before it and it is not conditioned to perform it at the Meeqaat. This prayer is only recommended and the one who does not perform it is not liable for anything. Ibn Al-Munthir said in relation to this point, "Scholars have unanimously agreed on the validity of the Ihraam of a person who performed it before reaching the Meeqaat. However, it is better to assume it at the Meeqaat and it is disliked to do so before it. An opinion that is similar to this was attributed to ‘Umar and ‘Uthmaan, may Allah be pleased with them. It is also the opinion adopted by Al-Hasan, ‘Ataa’, Maalik and Is'Haaq . However, Abu Haneefah said that it is better for a person to assume Ihraam from his country. Ash-Shaafi‘i adopted both opinions (according to two different narrations)." [Ibn Qudaamah in Al-Mughni]

Allah Knows best.