Does Umrah becoming compulsory if one wants to visit Jeddah?
The question, as received
We are planning to visit family in Jeddah. If we stay in Jeddah for 3 weeks, do we have to perform Umrah?
The answer
‘Umrah will only become binding upon a person who enters the mīqāt boundary intending to enter the boundaries of Haram (Makkah boundaries). Therefore, as you are not intending to travel to Makkah at the moment, you do not have to perform ῾Umrah. [1]
Condition: Umrah is binding only on one who crosses the miqat intending to enter the Haram.
Explanation
However, you have the opportunity of a lifetime to go and visit the House of Allah. This is a place upon which the mercy of Allah is constantly descending. Try and arrange a short ‘Umrah trip. The sight of the House of Allah will inject spiritual life into you.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Faraz Adam
References
1(وَالْمَوَاقِيتُ) أَيْ الْمَوَاضِعُ الَّتِي لَا يُجَاوِزُهَا مُرِيدُ مَكَّةَ إلَّا مُحْرِمًا خَمْسَةٌ (ذُو الْحُلَيْفَةِ) بِضَمٍّ فَفَتْحٍ مَكَانٌ عَلَى سِتَّةِ أَمْيَالٍ مِنْ الْمَدِينَةِ وَعَشْرِ مَرَاحِلَ مِنْ مَكَّةَ تُسَمِّيهَا الْعَوَّامُ أَبْيَارَ عَلِيٍّ – رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ – يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُ قَاتَلَ الْجِنَّ فِي بَعْضِهَا وَهُوَ كَذِبٌ (وَذَاتُ عِرْقٍ) بِكَسْرٍ فَسُكُونٍ عَلَى مَرْحَلَتَيْنِ مِنْ مَكَّةَ (وَجُحْفَةٌ) عَلَى ثَلَاثِ مَرَاحِلَ بِقُرْبِ رَابِغٍ (وَقَرْنٌ) عَلَى مَرْحَلَتَيْنِ فَتْحُ الرَّاءِ خَطَأٌ وَنِسْبَةُ أُوَيْسٍ إلَيْهِ خَطَأٌ آخَرُ (وَيَلَمْلَمُ) جَبَلٌ عَلَى مَرْحَلَتَيْنِ أَيْضًا (لِلْمَدَنِيِّ وَالْعِرَاقِيِّ وَالشَّامِيِّ) الْغَيْرِ الْمَارِّ بِالْمَدِينَةِ بِقَرِينَةِ مَا يَأْتِي (وَالنَّجْدِيُّ وَالْيَمَنِيُّ) لَفٌّ وَنَشْرٌ مُرَتَّبٌ وَيَجْمَعُهَا قَوْلُهُ:
عِرْقُ الْعِرَاقِ يَلَمْلَمُ الْيَمَنِ … وَبِذِي الْحُلَيْفَةِ يُحْرِمُ الْمَدَنِيّ
لِلشَّامِ جُحْفَةٌ إنْ مَرَرْت بِهَا … وَلِأَهْلِ نَجْدٍ قَرْنٌ فَاسْتَبِنِ
(وَكَذَا هِيَ لِمَنْ مَرَّ بِهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ أَهْلِهَا) كَالشَّامِّ يَمُرُّ بِمِيقَاتِ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ فَهُوَ مِيقَاتُهُ (الدر المختار من رد المحتار ج 2 ص 474-475 أيج أيم سعيد)
Based on the Hanafi school and on the question as it was asked. Another mufti may reach a different conclusion. Read the disclaimer.