Are the Miqats for Hajj and Umrah the Same?

Source: Urdu Sharh 'Umdat al-Ahkam Min Kalam Khayr al-Anam | Translated by: Hafiz Faizullah Nasir

✿ The Meaning of Hajj​

Hajj means to intend. Intending to visit the House of Allah with specific rituals and conditions is called Hajj. It is the fifth fundamental pillar of Islam. It is obligatory only upon those who have the means, and it is performed during the month of Dhul-Hijjah. Neglecting Hajj despite having the means is a major sin, and its outright denial is disbelief. According to the opinion of Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه, those who deny Hajj should be levied Jizyah, as they exit the fold of Islam.
[Talīkh al-Khabīr: 2/223]
Regarding its virtue, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم stated:
“The reward for an accepted Hajj is nothing but Paradise.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari: 1773]

✿ Chapter: On the Miqats​

Hadith ①
Narrated by ʿAbdullah ibn ʿAbbas رضي الله عنهما:
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم designated Dhul-Hulayfah for the people of Madinah, Juhfah for the people of Sham, Qarn al-Manazil for the people of Najd, and Yalamlam for the people of Yemen as their Miqat. These are for them and for those who pass through them intending Hajj or ʿUmrah, even if they are not from these regions. As for those closer (to Makkah), they should assume Ihram from their respective locations, even the people of Makkah should assume Ihram from Makkah.
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Hajj, Hadith: 1524 | Sahih Muslim, Book of Hajj, Hadith: 1181]

✔ Explanation of Vocabulary​

• Al-Mawāqīt: Plural of Miqat – designated boundary points for entering the state of Ihram.
• Dhul-Hulayfah: Miqat for the people of Madinah; today known as Abyar ʿAli, approx. 430 km from Makkah.
• Juhfah: Miqat for people of Egypt, Sham, and western countries; approx. 201 km from Makkah.
• Yalamlam: Miqat for people of India, Java, China, and Yemen; approx. 80 km from Makkah.
• Qarn al-Manazil: Miqat for the people of Taif and Najd; now known as Sail Kabir, approx. 80 km from Makkah.
• Dhāt ʿIrq: Miqat for people of Iraq and Iran; now known as Dhareeba, approx. 80 km from Makkah.

✿ Explanation of the Hadith​

This Hadith highlights different Miqats appointed for pilgrims arriving from different regions, based on their geographic locations. Imam Bukhari رحمة الله عليه, by titling the chapter as “Chapter on the Miqat for the People of Makkah for Hajj and ʿUmrah”, establishes that the Miqat for Hajj and ʿUmrah is the same—there is no difference between them.

Hadith ②
Narrated by ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما:
The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“The people of Madinah should assume Ihram from Dhul-Hulayfah, the people of Sham from Juhfah, and the people of Najd from Qarn al-Manazil.” And he said: “It has also reached me that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: The people of Yemen should assume Ihram from Yalamlam.”
[Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Hajj, Hadith: 1525 | Sahih Muslim, Book of Hajj, Hadith: 1182]

✔ Summary of the Ruling​

The Miqat for both Hajj and ʿUmrah is the same. Every pilgrim must enter the state of Ihram from the Miqat designated for their region or the one they pass by. This is based on authentic Ahadith and the consensus of scholars, as indicated by the classification and headings used by Imam Bukhari.