Is Umrah Compulsory by a Transit Through Jeddah?
The question, as received
Salam, I’m travelling from Pakistan (Karachi) to UK London, and I have a stopover in Jeddah is umrah wajib on me.
The answer
‘Umrahwill not become Wājibif one is simply transiting through Jeddah.
In short: Umrah is not wajib when merely transiting through Jeddah.
Fiqh basis
Imam Al-Kāsānī (d. 587 AH) states that a foreigner may enter or pass through the Mīqāt (prescribed boundaries) without donning Īḥrām (ritual sanctity) if their destination is not Makkah, but rather another location within the Mīqāti. In such a case, performing ʿUmrah would not be obligatory. Imam Al-Marghīnānī (d. 593 AH) further clarifies that this exemption applies as long as the person does not intend to enter Makkahii.
As such, the Mawāqītexist to ‘venerate the blessed land’ and to ‘distinguish it from all other lands of respect and virtue’ as Al-Kāsanī explains. Imam ʿAttābī describes that Allah has honoured this Kaʿbah, and part of honouring it is to sanctify it and its extended surroundings, which manifests in the form of Iḥrām (during Ḥajjor ʿUmrah)iii.
The flight trajectory leaving from Pakistan headed for Jeddah will cut through the northern Mīqāt, but since the intention is not for Makkah, ʿUmrahwill not be compulsory.
Passing through the Mīqāt alone is not a sacred activity that requires any additional worship or obligation. The sacredness to the Mīqāt comes because of heading towards Makkah. The Mīqāt restrictions are there to prepare a person in their appearance and presence in the sacred court of Almighty Allah in the Ḥaram. Hence, when a person is not heading towards Makkah, the passing across or through the Mīqāt is inconsequential.
And Allah knows best.
Maulana Asif Rahman
Reviewed and approved by Mufti Faraz Adam
References
iهذا إذا جاوز أحد هذه المواقيت الخمسة يريد الحج، أو العمرة، أو مكة، أو الحرم بغير دخول إحرام، فأما إذا لم يرد ذلك؛ يريد أن يأتي بستان بني عامر أو غيره لحاجة – فلا شيء عليه؛ لأن لزوم الحج أو العمرة بالمجاوزة من غير إحرام لحرمة الميقات – تعظيماً للبقعة)، وتمييزاً لها من بين سائرين البقاع في الشرفة والفضيلة؛ فيصير ملتزماً لإحرام منه، ليبقى لم يصر ملتزماً للإحرام؛ فلا يلزمه شيء (بدائع الصنائع للكاساني)
iiثم الآفاقي إذا انتهى إليها على قَصْدِ دخول مكة: عليه أن يُحْرِمَ، قَصَدَ الحج أو العمرة، أو لم يقصد عندنا (الهداية للمرغناني)
iiiلأن الله تعالى عظم هذا البيت فأضافه إلى نفسه، فكان تعظيمه لازما على من دخل في فنائه وتعظيمه بالطواف حوله للحج، وذلك لا يصح بدون الإحرام فصار الإحرام لازما عليه (شرح جامع الصغير للعتابي)
Based on the Hanafi school and on the question as it was asked. Another mufti may reach a different conclusion. Read the disclaimer.