✍ Authored by: Maqbool Ahmed Salafi – Jeddah Da’wah Center, Hayy as-Salamah, Saudi Arabia
Masjid ʿĀʾishah in Makkah is a well-known mosque from where residents of the Haram area commonly enter into Ihram to perform ʿUmrah. However, confusion persists among the general public regarding its use, and even many scholars have expressed differing opinions. This article aims to clarify the matter with detailed evidence.
The areas surrounding Masjid al-Ḥarām at a certain distance in each direction are known as the boundaries of the Haram (Hudūd al-Ḥaram). The reward of prayer within any part of this Haram boundary is equal to the reward of praying in Masjid al-Ḥarām.
صلاةٌ في المسجدِ الحرامِ أفضلُ من مائةِ ألفِ صلاةٍ فيما سواهُ
"One prayer in Masjid al-Ḥarām is better than a hundred thousand prayers elsewhere."
Today, Saudi authorities have clearly marked the boundaries of the Haram in all four directions. At each end of the Haram boundary, there are pillars. One side of the pillar reads in Arabic: نهاية حد الحرم and in English: END OF HARAM BOUNDARY, while the other side reads: بداية حد الحرم and BEGINNING OF HARAM BOUNDARY—allowing people to differentiate between Haram and Ḥill.
These boundaries were first demarcated by Ibrāhīm عليه السلام through Jibrīl عليه السلام as per Allah’s command. Later, the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ ordered Tamīm bin Asad al-Khuzāʿī to renew the signs of the Haram on the day of the conquest of Makkah. Subsequently, ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, and Muʿāwiyah رضي الله عنهم also undertook their renovation. These boundaries remain clearly marked to this day.
[See: Sharḥ al-Muhadhdhab: 7/463]
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and ʿUmrah has defined the geographical boundaries of the Haram as follows:
① North of Makkah – Up to Masjid ʿĀʾishah (Taneem), about 5 km on the Makkah–Madīnah road.
② South – Up to ʿArafāt, about 20 km on the Makkah–Ṭāʾif road.
③ West – Up to Ḥudaybiyyah (now known as ash-Shumaysī), about 18 km towards Jeddah.
④ East – Up to Jiʿirrānah, about 14.5 km, on the way to Ṭāʾif.
Areas within these boundaries are part of the Haram, while areas outside them are known as Ḥill, and are not part of the Haram.
After understanding the boundaries of the Haram, it's essential to know the correct places for entering into Ihram for ʿUmrah. There are three categories of people in this regard:
These include international travelers. They must enter into Ihram from their respective Mīqāt before reaching Makkah.
Examples of Mīqāt:
• Qarn al-Manāzil (for those coming via Ṭāʾif)
• Dhū’l-Ḥulayfah (for Madīnah route)
• Juhfah
• Yalamlam
• Dhāt ʿIrq
For example, those arriving by plane and landing in Jeddah must don the Ihram before passing Qarn al-Manāzil (via flight route).
They must enter into Ihram from their place of residence, such as residents of Jeddah, Shara’iʿ, Thuwal, Bahrah, etc.
They must exit the Haram area and enter into Ihram from any point in the Ḥill, such as:
• Masjid ʿĀʾishah (Taneem)
• Jiʿirrānah
• ʿArafāt
• Ḥudaybiyyah (ash-Shumaysī)
Masjid ʿĀʾishah (also called Masjid Taneem or Masjid ʿUmrah) is located 5 km north of Masjid al-Ḥarām on the Makkah–Madīnah road. It is a large, spacious mosque covering 6,000 sq. meters, with a capacity of around 15,000 worshippers. It is the closest point in Ḥill to the Haram, making it the most convenient location for residents within the Haram to enter into Ihram.
The mosque is named after ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها because during the Farewell Ḥajj, the Prophet ﷺ instructed her to enter into Ihram for ʿUmrah from this location after she was unable to perform ʿUmrah due to menstruation.
• She had intended ʿUmrah but menstruated before entering Makkah.
• The Prophet ﷺ told her to perform Ḥajj first (Qirān).
• After her Ḥajj rituals were complete, she expressed sadness at missing out on her initial ʿUmrah.
• The Prophet ﷺ instructed her brother, ʿAbdur-Raḥmān, to take her to Taneem to perform ʿUmrah from there.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1213]
This incident shows that if a woman intending ʿUmrah begins menstruating and cannot perform ʿUmrah before Yawm at-Tarwiyah (8th Dhul-Ḥijjah), she should change her intention to Ḥajj Qirān, and when she is pure, she will perform Ṭawāf and Saʿī, thus completing both Ḥajj and ʿUmrah.
Visitors who have already performed ʿUmrah by entering Ihram from the Mīqāt often ask: Can they perform a second ʿUmrah from Masjid ʿĀʾishah?
Yes, if someone is residing within the Haram after completing a first ʿUmrah, and now intends to perform another ʿUmrah, they do not need to go back to the Mīqāt. They may exit to any point in the Ḥill, such as Masjid ʿĀʾishah or Jiʿirrānah, and enter into Ihram there.
Some claim that this was specific to ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها because of menstruation, but this is not supported by evidence. The ruling for entering Ihram does not differ between men and women or between pure and menstruating women.
① The Prophet ﷺ instructed ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها to enter Ihram from Taneem, with no indication that this was specific to her case.
② In the 8th Hijrī, after the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ and his companions entered Ihram for ʿUmrah from Jiʿirrānah.
③ For those residing within the Mīqāt but outside the Haram, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Those who live within the Mīqāt should enter Ihram from their place of residence, even the people of Makkah—from Makkah."
Note: For ʿUmrah, residents of the Haram must go outside the Haram, even though for Ḥajj they may begin from within.
Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr stated that there is consensus among scholars on this point:
"Anyone residing in Makkah must go to Ḥill to enter into Ihram for ʿUmrah."
[al-Istidhkār: 4/79]
Many believe that if someone arrives in Makkah or Jeddah for work and later decides to perform ʿUmrah, they must wait three to fifteen days before doing so. This is incorrect. One can enter into Ihram immediately, as long as they are within the appropriate zone (Ḥill or residence).
Also, anyone coming from outside the Mīqāt must enter into Ihram at the Mīqāt. Entering Jeddah first and only then donning Ihram is invalid and requires a penalty (dam).
① Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله said:
It is permissible to perform another ʿUmrah from Taneem or other Ḥill locations, even on behalf of deceased parents, as ʿĀʾishah did.
[binbaz.org.sa]
② Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān حفظه الله stated:
It is better not to repeat ʿUmrah frequently in a short time, but if one does so with a new Ihram from the Ḥill, there is no harm, although it's not preferable.
[islamweb.net]
③ Lajnah Dāʾimah ruled that:
Those who entered Ihram for ʿUmrah from within the Haram (e.g., Kadi), must offer a penalty (dam). They should have gone to Ḥill.
[Fatwa No. 5830]
④ Shaykh Muhammad Ṣāliḥ al-Munajjid stated:
It is allowed for visitors, especially those from far away, to perform a second ʿUmrah from the nearest Ḥill, such as Taneem.
[islamqa.info, Fatwa No. 180123]
Some scholars like Shaykh al-Albānī and Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn opined that one ʿUmrah per journey is preferable, following the Sunnah. However, others allow for additional ʿUmrah if there is a gap between them or if done on behalf of deceased relatives.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"One ʿUmrah to another is an expiation for the sins in between."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1773]
Though the Prophet ﷺ told ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها that her Ḥajj and ʿUmrah were complete, he still allowed her to perform a separate ʿUmrah from Taneem, showing permissibility—yet frequent repetition is discouraged.
◈ Introduction
Masjid ʿĀʾishah in Makkah is a well-known mosque from where residents of the Haram area commonly enter into Ihram to perform ʿUmrah. However, confusion persists among the general public regarding its use, and even many scholars have expressed differing opinions. This article aims to clarify the matter with detailed evidence.
◈ What is Hudūd al-Ḥaram (Boundaries of the Sacred Sanctuary)?
The areas surrounding Masjid al-Ḥarām at a certain distance in each direction are known as the boundaries of the Haram (Hudūd al-Ḥaram). The reward of prayer within any part of this Haram boundary is equal to the reward of praying in Masjid al-Ḥarām.
ﷺ Prophetic Statement:
صلاةٌ في المسجدِ الحرامِ أفضلُ من مائةِ ألفِ صلاةٍ فيما سواهُ
"One prayer in Masjid al-Ḥarām is better than a hundred thousand prayers elsewhere."
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Mājah: 1163
Today, Saudi authorities have clearly marked the boundaries of the Haram in all four directions. At each end of the Haram boundary, there are pillars. One side of the pillar reads in Arabic: نهاية حد الحرم and in English: END OF HARAM BOUNDARY, while the other side reads: بداية حد الحرم and BEGINNING OF HARAM BOUNDARY—allowing people to differentiate between Haram and Ḥill.
These boundaries were first demarcated by Ibrāhīm عليه السلام through Jibrīl عليه السلام as per Allah’s command. Later, the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ ordered Tamīm bin Asad al-Khuzāʿī to renew the signs of the Haram on the day of the conquest of Makkah. Subsequently, ʿUmar, ʿUthmān, and Muʿāwiyah رضي الله عنهم also undertook their renovation. These boundaries remain clearly marked to this day.
[See: Sharḥ al-Muhadhdhab: 7/463]The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and ʿUmrah has defined the geographical boundaries of the Haram as follows:
① North of Makkah – Up to Masjid ʿĀʾishah (Taneem), about 5 km on the Makkah–Madīnah road.
② South – Up to ʿArafāt, about 20 km on the Makkah–Ṭāʾif road.
③ West – Up to Ḥudaybiyyah (now known as ash-Shumaysī), about 18 km towards Jeddah.
④ East – Up to Jiʿirrānah, about 14.5 km, on the way to Ṭāʾif.
Areas within these boundaries are part of the Haram, while areas outside them are known as Ḥill, and are not part of the Haram.
◈ Places for Entering into Ihram
After understanding the boundaries of the Haram, it's essential to know the correct places for entering into Ihram for ʿUmrah. There are three categories of people in this regard:
① Those coming from outside the Mīqāt:
These include international travelers. They must enter into Ihram from their respective Mīqāt before reaching Makkah.
Examples of Mīqāt:
• Qarn al-Manāzil (for those coming via Ṭāʾif)
• Dhū’l-Ḥulayfah (for Madīnah route)
• Juhfah
• Yalamlam
• Dhāt ʿIrq
For example, those arriving by plane and landing in Jeddah must don the Ihram before passing Qarn al-Manāzil (via flight route).
② Those living inside the Mīqāt but outside the Haram boundary:
They must enter into Ihram from their place of residence, such as residents of Jeddah, Shara’iʿ, Thuwal, Bahrah, etc.
③ Those residing within the Haram boundary:
They must exit the Haram area and enter into Ihram from any point in the Ḥill, such as:
• Masjid ʿĀʾishah (Taneem)
• Jiʿirrānah
• ʿArafāt
• Ḥudaybiyyah (ash-Shumaysī)
◈ Masjid ʿĀʾishah and Entering into Ihram
Masjid ʿĀʾishah (also called Masjid Taneem or Masjid ʿUmrah) is located 5 km north of Masjid al-Ḥarām on the Makkah–Madīnah road. It is a large, spacious mosque covering 6,000 sq. meters, with a capacity of around 15,000 worshippers. It is the closest point in Ḥill to the Haram, making it the most convenient location for residents within the Haram to enter into Ihram.
The mosque is named after ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها because during the Farewell Ḥajj, the Prophet ﷺ instructed her to enter into Ihram for ʿUmrah from this location after she was unable to perform ʿUmrah due to menstruation.
Summary of the Incident:
• She had intended ʿUmrah but menstruated before entering Makkah.
• The Prophet ﷺ told her to perform Ḥajj first (Qirān).
• After her Ḥajj rituals were complete, she expressed sadness at missing out on her initial ʿUmrah.
• The Prophet ﷺ instructed her brother, ʿAbdur-Raḥmān, to take her to Taneem to perform ʿUmrah from there.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1213]◈ Scholarly Point:
This incident shows that if a woman intending ʿUmrah begins menstruating and cannot perform ʿUmrah before Yawm at-Tarwiyah (8th Dhul-Ḥijjah), she should change her intention to Ḥajj Qirān, and when she is pure, she will perform Ṭawāf and Saʿī, thus completing both Ḥajj and ʿUmrah.
◈ Can Visitors Perform Another ʿUmrah from Masjid ʿĀʾishah?
Visitors who have already performed ʿUmrah by entering Ihram from the Mīqāt often ask: Can they perform a second ʿUmrah from Masjid ʿĀʾishah?
Ruling:
Yes, if someone is residing within the Haram after completing a first ʿUmrah, and now intends to perform another ʿUmrah, they do not need to go back to the Mīqāt. They may exit to any point in the Ḥill, such as Masjid ʿĀʾishah or Jiʿirrānah, and enter into Ihram there.
Some claim that this was specific to ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها because of menstruation, but this is not supported by evidence. The ruling for entering Ihram does not differ between men and women or between pure and menstruating women.
◈ Supporting Evidences:
① The Prophet ﷺ instructed ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها to enter Ihram from Taneem, with no indication that this was specific to her case.
② In the 8th Hijrī, after the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet ﷺ and his companions entered Ihram for ʿUmrah from Jiʿirrānah.
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Abī Dāwūd: 1890
③ For those residing within the Mīqāt but outside the Haram, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Those who live within the Mīqāt should enter Ihram from their place of residence, even the people of Makkah—from Makkah."
Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1524
Note: For ʿUmrah, residents of the Haram must go outside the Haram, even though for Ḥajj they may begin from within.
Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr stated that there is consensus among scholars on this point:"Anyone residing in Makkah must go to Ḥill to enter into Ihram for ʿUmrah."
[al-Istidhkār: 4/79]
Refuting a Misconception
Many believe that if someone arrives in Makkah or Jeddah for work and later decides to perform ʿUmrah, they must wait three to fifteen days before doing so. This is incorrect. One can enter into Ihram immediately, as long as they are within the appropriate zone (Ḥill or residence).
Also, anyone coming from outside the Mīqāt must enter into Ihram at the Mīqāt. Entering Jeddah first and only then donning Ihram is invalid and requires a penalty (dam).
◈ Fatwas from Contemporary Scholars
① Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله said:
It is permissible to perform another ʿUmrah from Taneem or other Ḥill locations, even on behalf of deceased parents, as ʿĀʾishah did.
[binbaz.org.sa]② Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān حفظه الله stated:
It is better not to repeat ʿUmrah frequently in a short time, but if one does so with a new Ihram from the Ḥill, there is no harm, although it's not preferable.
[islamweb.net]③ Lajnah Dāʾimah ruled that:
Those who entered Ihram for ʿUmrah from within the Haram (e.g., Kadi), must offer a penalty (dam). They should have gone to Ḥill.
[Fatwa No. 5830]④ Shaykh Muhammad Ṣāliḥ al-Munajjid stated:
It is allowed for visitors, especially those from far away, to perform a second ʿUmrah from the nearest Ḥill, such as Taneem.
[islamqa.info, Fatwa No. 180123]◈ Repeating ʿUmrah from Masjid ʿĀʾishah Frequently
Some scholars like Shaykh al-Albānī and Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn opined that one ʿUmrah per journey is preferable, following the Sunnah. However, others allow for additional ʿUmrah if there is a gap between them or if done on behalf of deceased relatives.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"One ʿUmrah to another is an expiation for the sins in between."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1773]Though the Prophet ﷺ told ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها that her Ḥajj and ʿUmrah were complete, he still allowed her to perform a separate ʿUmrah from Taneem, showing permissibility—yet frequent repetition is discouraged.
