الْمَوَاقِيتُ وَالْإِحْرَامُ

What is iḥraam? Iḥraam (الْإِحْرَامُ) is entering the sacred state of pilgrimage. It is the intention (niyya) to begin Hajj or Umrah; for the Hanafis, it must be accompanied by the talbiya or what replaces it [À VÉRIFIER : rôle de la talbiya selon les écoles]. For the majority, iḥraam is a pillar of Hajj; for the Hanafis, it is a condition [À VÉRIFIER]. The white garments are not iḥraam itself: they are its clothing. One may wear them on the plane without yet being in iḥraam; the state of iḥraam begins with the intention.

The miiqaats: the gates of the pilgrimage The miiqaat is the boundary one does not cross without being in iḥraam, when coming for Hajj or Umrah. Ibn 'Abbaas reports that the Prophet ﷺ set Dhul-Ḥulayfa for the people of Madinah, al-Juḥfa for those of Shaam, Qarn al-Manaazil for those of Najd and Yalamlam for those of Yemen, "for them and for those who pass by them without being from there, among those who intend Hajj or Umrah; and whoever is nearer, it is from where he sets out, up to the people of Makkah, who set out from Makkah" (Bukhari 1524, Muslim 1181). • Dhul-Ḥulayfa, today called Abyaar 'Ali, very close to Madinah: the miiqaat of whoever leaves Madinah for Makkah. • Al-Juḥfa: today, iḥraam is taken at Raabigh, a nearby town. • Qarn al-Manaazil, today called as-Sayl al-Kabiir. • Yalamlam. • Dhaat 'Irq, for the people of Iraq: according to one report, 'Umar set it (Bukhari 1531); another report attributes it to the Prophet ﷺ (Muslim 1183) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros et attribution]. Whoever lives between the miiqaats and Makkah (for example in Jeddah) takes iḥraam from home. The resident of Makkah takes iḥraam for Hajj in Makkah; for Umrah, he goes out of the sacred zone to the ḥill, for example to at-Tan'iim, as 'Aa'isha did on the Prophet's ﷺ instruction (Bukhari 1556, Muslim 1211) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros].

From Montreal, by plane Most flights from Canada land in Jeddah or Madinah, often after a stopover. • If you go to Madinah first, you do not take iḥraam on the way there: you will take it at Dhul-Ḥulayfa when leaving Madinah for Makkah. • If you go directly to Makkah via Jeddah, the plane passes over or level with a miiqaat before landing. The majority of scholars and contemporary bodies ask that iḥraam be taken on the plane, level with the miiqaat (the crew often announces it). Some contemporary scholars have considered Jeddah itself a miiqaat for those arriving by air [À VÉRIFIER : présentation des avis et conseil du centre]. • So prepare beforehand: ghusl and clothing at home, at the airport or during the stopover; the intention and the talbiya at the announced time. • Whoever passes the miiqaat without iḥraam while intending Hajj or Umrah must go back to it if he can; otherwise, according to the majority, he takes iḥraam where he is and owes a sacrifice (dam) [À VÉRIFIER].

Preparing before the intention • Hygiene: many scholars recommend clipping one's nails, trimming one's moustache and removing body hair before iḥraam, since it will then be forbidden [À VÉRIFIER]. • Ghusl: the Prophet ﷺ washed for his iḥraam (At-Tirmidhi 830) [À VÉRIFIER : numéro]. It is recommended even for a woman in her period or in post-natal bleeding: the Prophet ﷺ told Asmaa' bint 'Umays, who had just given birth, to wash and take iḥraam (Muslim 1218). • Perfume on the body, not on the clothes, before the intention: "I used to perfume the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for his iḥraam before he entered it" ('Aa'isha, Bukhari 1539, Muslim 1189). What remains after the intention is not a problem for the majority; the Malikis discourage perfume whose scent remains [À VÉRIFIER]. • Men's clothing: two pieces of cloth not sewn to the shape of the body, a wrap (izaar) around the waist and a sheet (ridaa') over the shoulders, preferably white, and sandals. The Prophet ﷺ forbade the muḥrim the shirt, the turban, trousers, the hooded cloak and ankle-high footwear; whoever finds no sandals may wear shoes cut below the ankles (Bukhari 1542, Muslim 1177). A belt, a watch, glasses or a pouch are accepted according to most scholars [À VÉRIFIER]. • Women's clothing: her ordinary clothes, loose and modest, in whatever colour she wishes (no colour is required). She wears neither niqaab nor gloves (Bukhari 1838), but she may, according to many scholars, cover her face in front of men who are not maḥram with a veil that hangs down [À VÉRIFIER]. • Prayer: the majority recommend two rak'as before iḥraam, or taking it after an obligatory prayer; other scholars say there is no prayer specific to iḥraam and that one takes it after a prayer if there is one [À VÉRIFIER : présentation des avis].

The intention, the condition and the talbiya • The intention is in the heart, and it is permitted to say it: "Labbayka 'Umratan" (for Umrah), "Labbayka Ḥajjan" (for Hajj), "Labbayka 'Umratan wa Ḥajjan" (for qiraan, lesson 4) [À VÉRIFIER : formules]. • The condition (al-ishtiraaṭ): whoever fears an obstacle (illness, accident) may add: "If something prevents me, I leave iḥraam wherever You stop me", as the Prophet ﷺ taught Ḍubaa'a bint az-Zubayr, who was ill (Bukhari 5089, Muslim 1207). The schools differ on who may make it and on its effect [À VÉRIFIER]. • Then one begins the talbiya, that of the Prophet ﷺ (Bukhari 1549, Muslim 1184) [À VÉRIFIER : texte arabe et translittération]: لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ Labbayka llaahumma labbayk, labbayka laa shariika laka labbayk, inna l-ḥamda wa n-ni'mata laka wa l-mulk, laa shariika lak. Meaning: "Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Praise, blessing and dominion are Yours. You have no partner." • Men say it aloud, women quietly. It is repeated often: when going up, when going down, when meeting other pilgrims, after the prayers. • For Umrah, one stops it when beginning the ṭawaaf; for Hajj, when beginning the stoning of Jamrat al-'Aqaba on 10 Dhul-Ḥijja [À VÉRIFIER : moment exact selon les écoles].

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Iḥraam resembles the opening takbiir of prayer: by pronouncing it, one enters a state in which ordinary, permitted things become forbidden, in order to devote oneself to Allah. The simple white clothing of men erases differences: the rich and the poor, the employer and the employee wear the same cloth. Many also see in it a reminder of the shroud: one presents oneself to Allah as one will meet Him. The talbiya is an answer. Allah had commanded Ibraahiim to call people to the pilgrimage (22:27); the pilgrim answers: "Here I am". Its words are a declaration of oneness: "You have no partner" comes twice. The miiqaats teach that one does not approach the House of Allah just anyhow: there is a gate, and one passes through it prepared. The rules for planes apply this principle to modern travel.

Lessons to draw from it • Before the flight, know whether you are going to Madinah or Makkah first, and when the plane will pass the miiqaat. • Learn the talbiya by heart before leaving, with its meaning. • Do not confuse the clothing and the intention: it is the intention that brings one into iḥraam. • For women: ordinary modest clothes are enough, with no required colour. • Ask the imam and the group which practice to follow for iḥraam on the plane.

Key points to remember • Five miiqaats set by the Prophet ﷺ (Bukhari 1524, Muslim 1181), plus Dhaat 'Irq. • Iḥraam is the intention; men's clothing: unsewn izaar and ridaa' (Bukhari 1542, Muslim 1177). • Women: neither niqaab nor gloves (Bukhari 1838). • Ghusl and perfume on the body before the intention (Bukhari 1539, Muslim 1189). • The talbiya: "Labbayka llaahumma labbayk…" (Bukhari 1549, Muslim 1184).

The main message Iḥraam is the gate of the pilgrimage: pass through it at the miiqaat, purified and prepared, in the clothing of equality, answering Allah's call with the talbiya.

The text: Surah Al-Ḥajj (22), verses 26 to 27 [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : sourate 22:26-27]

Meaning: "And when We showed Ibraahiim the site of the House: 'Associate nothing with Me, and purify My House for those who circle it, those who stand, and those who bow and prostrate. And proclaim the pilgrimage among people: they will come to you on foot and on every lean mount, coming from every distant path.'" The talbiya is understood as the believers' answer to this call.

Arabic text: deliberately not typed, to avoid any error; it is to be copied from the centre's mushaf (or a verified source) at the place indicated.