Miqat and Ihram

Miqat means the time of meeting, the place and the time of rendezvous. It refers to a place where the hajj officially starts. Prophet Muhammad (saw) himself established the borders of miqat. (Bukhari, Hajj, 7) While the people who live in Mecca must enter ihram with an intention for hajj in the place they are, the others who travel from other countries to Mecca to perform hajj must enter ihram again with an intention for it in the places that appointed for them(These are: Dhu al-Hulayfa, Juhfa, Qarn al-Manazil, Yalamlam, Dhat ‘Irq), thereby they start their hajj.

The hajj can be performed in three different ways. Umrah and hajj during the hajj season can be performed with separate niyyahs (intentions) and ihrams (Umrah: It is a worship that does not have a time limitation and exercised by assuming ihram and performing tawaf and sa’i then getting out of ihram after having a shave). It is also called "Hajj al-Tamattu." If umrah and hajj are performed together in one niyyah and ihram, then it is called "Hajj al-Qiran." If the person only intends for hajj alone without umrah then it is "Hajj al-Ifrad." While those wishing to perform Hajj al-Ifrad makes niyyah to perform hajj, those who wish to exercise Hajj al-Tamattu makes niyyah (intends) to exercise umrah, and those who wish to practise Hajj al-Qiran makes niyyah to practice both umrah and hajj. 

Ihram is one of the three fardh (compulsory) acts of hajj. The others are Waqfat al-Arafat and Tawaf al-Ziyarah. Ihram means rendering some of the words, actions, and behaviors that are actually halal forbidden (haram) for a certain period of time. These bans enter into effect at the place of miqat upon making niyyah and uttering talbiyah, and remain in force until a person gets out of the state of ihram (Such prohibitions involve getting dressed with daily clothes other than the ihram dress, wearing perfume or scent, shaving and hair removal, nail trimming, sexual intercourse, hunting land animals and cutting and plucking plants in the haram region). Obligations such as qurbani, sadaqah, and fasting are imposed depending on the ban that a person violates. For more information please see Heyet, Hac İlmihali, DİB Yayınları, Ankara 2009, 162-176). It is necessary to observe ihram for the acceptance of hajj. One enters the state of ihram by making niyyah and uttering talbiyah. Talbiyah is recited as follows: “Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk. Labbayk La Sharika Laka Labbayk. Inna l-Hamda, Wa n-Niʻmata, Laka wal Mulk, La Sharika Lak.” It means: “Here I am at Thy service O Allah (swt) Thou hast no partners. Thine alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and Thine alone is the Sovereignty. Thou hast no partners.

The believer who intends for hajj at miqat feels that he made an agreement with Allah (swt). After this, he will try to experience the tranquility of this divine meeting during his hajj and throughout his life, and he will try to remain true to his word. 

The talbiyah he keeps repeating during his state of ihram is surrender and loyalty to Allah (swt) that put into words. By reading talbiyah one promises to Allah (swt) as follows: “O Rabb! I heard your call and responded to your order. I came before Your presence and turned towards you. From now on, I won't go beyond your command.”  As talbiyah is the common language of believers, it is also the common dhikr of the universe.Prophet Muhammad (saw) also states this truth with the following hadith: “There is no Muslim who says the Talbiyah except that - on his right and left, until the end of the land, from here to there - the rocks, or trees, or mud say the Talbiyah.” (Tirmidhi, Hajj, 14) 

Getting reminded of the fact that all beings such as mountains, rocks, trees or things say "Labbayk" should conduce one to self-questioning. Believer should reflect the surrender of “Labbayk” which means “I am at your service Allah (swt)” to his whole life and he should orientate all his bevahiors towards this awareness. A beliver uttering “labbayk” should keep himself/herself away from all kinds of bad words such as gloom, lies and slander and he should not use offensive expressions. S/He should avoid looking at what is haram and s/he should not investigate the imperfections and flaws of anyone. He should not harm any creature and he should not ask for what he does not deserve. The servant who says “labbayk” should be sweet-spoken, smiling and he should compete in kindness and taqwa. The believer who keeps repeating talbiyah until he sees the Ka’bah should continue to obey Allah's (swt) orders with sincerity and he should keep acting with the manner of talbiyah in his actions.

The men who enter the state of ihram wrap themselves in a seamless two-piece cloth/towel called "idhar" and "rida," keep their heads open and do not wear shoes. The women, on the other hand, continue to wear normal clothes suitable for a modest dressing when they enter the state of ihram. During ihram, they have to keep their face unveiled. 

Ihram means that all Muslims, regardless of their social statutes are equal and they are brothers and sisters in the sight of Allah (swt). Believers take off all the worldly dresses and ornaments that show their position and wealth, and cover themselves with a two-piece cloth, which symbolizes equality. They try to gird on with the "clothing of righteousness" - that is best. (A’raf, 7/26) 

Undoubtedly ihram is not only about changing clothes, but it is a person's changing oneself. It is a believer's promise to be a worthy servant of Allah (swt) with the feeling of “O, Allah (swt)! I repent of what I have done so far with the will of my nafs (self, psyche), and what I have said without your consent, and for all my mistakes and I enter ihram to turn towards you with my heart and soul.” He also must remove bad feelings and ideas in his heart as he takes off clothes on him.

Getting into the state of ihram is like girding on in the jihad started against one's nafs (self, psyche) and the devil. The pilgrim who emerge victorious of this war becomes the representative of peace. He becomes such a Muslim that about whom all the people feel themselves safe from all harms. 

Allah (swt) draws attention to the prohibitions and warn people about avoiding from harming the others by stating it in our book, the Holy Qur'an with the following verse: “There is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj.” (Baqarah, 2/197)  Qur'an states the importance of obeying rules with the verse of “Whoever honors the sacred ordinances of Allah - it is best for him in the sight of his Lord.” (Hajj, 22/30) 

Pursuant to the order by the Messenger of Allah (saw) "It is not allowed to uproot its shrubs or to cut its trees, or to chase (or disturb) it's game, or to pick up its luqata (fallen things) except by a person who would announce that (what he has found) publicly to find its owner” (Bukhari, Jaza al-Sayd, 9; Muslim, Hajj, 447), Ihram bans also provide immunity for the natural environment, along with plants and animals.