Plan your Ihram timing
Your plan
Miqat you'll cross
Packing list for Ihram (men)
The 9 prohibitions during Ihram
Until Umrah is completed and you exit Ihram.
Soap, perfume, deodorant that leaves fragrance.
No hat, no umbrella touching head, no cap.
Two pieces, no stitching above ankles or below navel.
No niqab or burqa by hand during Ihram, but hijab ok.
Even removing locusts is discouraged.
Cannot be performed during Ihram.
With spouse or otherwise.
Pilgrimage must be peaceful.
How to read the plan
- The Miqat is the geographical boundary where you must be in Ihram state. The 5 main Miqats are Dhu al-Hulayfah (for Madinah), Yalamlam (for Yemen), Qarn al-Manazil (for Najd), Juhfah (for Syria/Egypt), and a fifth for modern travellers via Jeddah airport.
- From Jeddah airport: the modern Miqat is at Rabigh for travellers continuing overland, or you can take Ihram at the airport before boarding (most airlines allow — check with your carrier).
- From Madinah: cross Dhu al-Hulayfah (Bir Ali), about 12 km south of Madinah. Buses stop here; the airport prayer room has Ihram facilities.
- The intention (niyyah) is silent, not spoken aloud. You simply say to yourself "I intend to perform Umrah."
Limitations
• Exact Miqat timing depends on traffic. Plan an extra hour.
• Women are not obligated to wear the two-piece unstitched sheets but should wear modest dress (loose, opaque, no face/hand covering). Many scholars differ on white-only — non-white is permissible.
• Ihram can be changed; if the first sheet gets dirty, replace it. But the prohibitions continue until you exit Ihram after Tawaf and Sa'i.
• Children below puberty are not obligated; if accompanying, no Ihram needed but should dress modestly.
FAQ
Can I take Ihram on the flight?
Yes, most pilgrims do this. The Ihram state begins the moment you form the intention; the sheets must be on before crossing the Miqat. Airplane bathrooms are usable for changing if you fly Saudia, flynas or other carriers that don't object.
What if I forget to enter Ihram before the Miqat?
You can either: (a) return to the Miqat to enter Ihram there, or (b) make an expiation (dam) — usually sacrificing a sheep in Makkah via a charity arrangement.
Sources
- Miqat boundaries — Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, public map published 2024.
- 9 prohibitions — based on hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim, summarised per the Sunni mainstream view.
- Saudi airline Ihram policy — Saudia, flynas published FAQs.