The miqats: the five sacred boundaries before Mecca

Around Mecca, five sites mark a boundary that no pilgrim heading for Hajj or Umrah may cross without already being in the state of Ihram. These boundaries, called miqats, each correspond to a direction of arrival: the pilgrim uses whichever one lies on their own route.

What is a miqat?

A miqat is the geographic boundary beyond which it is no longer permitted to advance toward Masjid al-Haram without having entered a state of sacred consecration (ritual washing, wearing of Ihram garments, statement of intention and the Talbiya). There are five of them, fixed by prophetic tradition, each corresponding to a direction of arrival at Mecca.

Dhu'l-Hulayfah, for pilgrims coming from Medina

The farthest of the five miqats lies about 9 km from Medina and 410 km north of Mecca. Also known as Abyar Ali, it is identified with the Ash-Shajarah Mosque and serves as the point of consecration for pilgrims from Medina as well as anyone approaching Mecca from that direction.

Juhfah, for pilgrims coming from Syria

About 180 km northwest of Mecca, Juhfah is the traditional miqat for pilgrims arriving from the direction of Syria and, more broadly, the Levant.

Qarn al-Manazil, for pilgrims coming from Najd

A hilly region about 80 km east of Mecca, Qarn al-Manazil is the miqat for the people of Najd, the central region of the Arabian Peninsula, and for those arriving from it.

Dhat Irq, for pilgrims coming from Iraq and Iran

About 90 km northeast of Mecca, this miqat traditionally serves pilgrims from Iraq and Iran, as well as anyone coming from that direction.

Yalamlam, for pilgrims coming from Yemen and Asia

A hilly region about 100 km southeast of Mecca, Yalamlam is the miqat for the people of Yemen. It is also that of many pilgrims arriving by sea from China, Japan, India, or Pakistan.