2. Ihram

Miqat

The mīqāt is a geographical boundary marking the entry point before which you must enter the state of iḥrām and make an intention to perform ʿumrah. The mīqāt awakens a new awareness in you, a spiritual consciousness that lets you know you are entering a protected and sacred domain.

Shāh Waliyyullāh (raḥimahullāh) explains the wisdom behind the various mīqāts:

“The essence of setting mīqāts is that since coming to Makkah is an act of humility and self-restraint, it would be overly burdensome to require people to enter iḥrām from their homelands, especially when some live a distance of a month or more away. Therefore, specific and wellknown locations around Makkah were appointed, so no one would delay iḥrām beyond them. These locations are known and frequently passed by travellers. For the people of Madinah, the furthest mīqāt was chosen because their city was the cradle of revelation, the refuge of īmān, and the place of migration. It was the first city to believe in Allah and His Messenger, and its people deserve to go above and beyond in honouring Allah’s word and being distinct in acts of worship.”

Entering the State of Ihram

Before entering the state of iḥrām, purify your body. Remember to also purify and clean your heart. Cleanse it from turning to anyone besides Allah. Free your heart from both the obvious forms of shirk and the more subtle form: the idea that others have control over your provision or yourself.

Reflect: Who do you turn to when you need help? If it is not Allah, why don’t you turn to Him? Is it because subconsciously you believe others can help you better?

After having cleansed your body of any impurities, wear the two pieces of cloth (for men), perform two rakʿahs, make an intention to perform ʿumrah, and enter into the state of iḥrām.

The Secrets of Entering the State of Ihram

As you enter the state of iḥrām, keep the following in mind:

1. Iḥrām means to disengage. You are disengaging from all worldly distractions and are focusing purely on Allah.

2. Iḥrām is the perfect training ground for upholding the boundaries of Allah. While in the state of iḥrām, certain actions that are normally permissible become prohibited. This trains you to honour Allah’s commands and avoid His prohibitions, not just during ʿumrah, but also in your everyday life.

3. Iḥrām is a reminder of death. When wearing the iḥrām, remember the shroud (kafn) that you will be wrapped in when you will die. Neither the iḥrām nor the shroud has stitching, and both signify a stripping away of worldly attachments.

Reflect: How is the moment you wear your iḥrām similar to the day you will die?

4. Allah looks at what lies within. Think of the difference between what you wear when you visit a king in this world versus what you wear when going to the House of the King of all kings. Worldly kings look at physical appearances, but Allah looks at what lies within: your sincerity, intentions and your heart. Allah (subḥānahū wa taʿālā) says,

إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ إِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلِيْمٌ خَبِيْرٌ ‎

“…Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware” (49:13).

5. Iḥrām evokes a sense of humility and submission. You are standing in front of your Lord as you were born: stripped of wealth and clothed in simple garments. It is a reminder that you own nothing for yourself and are in need of everything from your Creator.

6. Everyone is equal in front of Allah. The iḥrām is an equaliser. When people are wearing the iḥrām, you are unable to differentiate a king from a beggar. The only difference that matters is our piety.

Even though we appear equal on the outside, Allah knows the secrets of our hearts. It may be that a poor man living hand-tomouth is more beloved to Allah than a wealthy man who possesses the riches of the world. It may be that an unknown pilgrim, dishevelled and dusty, whom people overlook, is the most beloved to Allah. No one has superiority over another, except through their taqwā (piety).

7. Just as the iḥrām (white garment) represents physical purity, remember to also purify your heart. Many people focus on cleaning their garments, but forget to clean the stains on their hearts.

8. Feel the unity. The iḥrām is a marker of unity. It is the triumph of Islamic identity over divisions of nationality, race, and language. By wearing the same simple clothing (iḥrām) and reciting the same chant (talbiyah), Muslims from all backgrounds unite in a shared expression of their identity, leaving behind regional customs and distinctions.

9. Focus on the remembrance of Allah. Anas b. Mālik (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) entered into the state of iḥrām and his companions said, “We did not hear him say anything except the remembrance of Allah until the end of his pilgrimage. Then he said: ‘My nephew, this is how one behaves when in iḥrām.’” Whenever Shurayḥ (raḥimahullāh) would enter into the state of iḥrām, it was as if he was a mute snake.

10. Iḥrām is like the takbīr at the start of ṣalāh. It is a physical act that marks your entry into a sacred state. By leaving behind comfort and luxury, you enter a new zone of humility before Allah. Just as ṣalāh ends with the taslīm, iḥrām concludes with a tangible action (shaving or trimming your hair) that formally marks your exit from this sacred state. This physical framing keeps your heart connected to Allah and makes you more mindful of Him throughout your iḥrām.