Mīqāt
Definition
The miqat is the designated geographical boundary at which pilgrims must enter the state of ihram before proceeding to Mecca. There are five miqat points, placed by the Prophet ﷺ at different approaches to the holy city, and passing them without entering ihram while intending Hajj or Umra is a violation requiring expiation. Al-Ghazali sees in the miqat a symbolic threshold: it is the point at which the ordinary world is left behind and the sacred journey truly begins. The miqat forces the pilgrim to make a conscious, deliberate decision — there is no drifting into Hajj.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Mīqāt.
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"sa'i afterward, standing at Arafat, and shaving thereafter according to one opinion. The pillars of Umrah are similar, except for standing at Arafat. The obligatory duties that require a sacrifice if neglected are six: ihram from the miqat; if one passes the miqat without entering ihram, a sheep must be offered. Throwing the pebbles also requires a sacrifice by consensus."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 7: The Mysteries of Pilgrimage
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"the Lord of the angels and the Spirit, You have enveloped the heavens with honor and might." The second section on the etiquette of ihram from the miqat to entering Mecca: The first part of the process involves performing the bath with the intention of the ihram bath. This is done upon reaching the well-known miqat, the designated place from which people begin ihram."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 7: The Mysteries of Pilgrimage
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"but the tawaf does not count as a compulsory duty because obligatory tawaf in Hajj must occur after standing. The qarin must offer a sheep unless he is from Mecca, as Mecca itself is his miqat. The third is tamattu', where one passes the miqat in ihram for Umrah, becomes lawful in Mecca, and enjoys permissible acts until Hajj time, then assumes ihram for Hajj."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 7: The Mysteries of Pilgrimage
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