Q. With the new restrictions in some airports and airlines concerning the way we travel and what carry-on luggage is allowed to be carried on the plane, it has become very difficult to start one’s consecration, or ihraam, during flight. People used to begin their ihraam about 30-45 minutes before the plane is due to land in Jeddah. Now this is extremely difficult, as one cannot wear the ihraam garments before boarding, and cannot take them on the plane. What is the solution?
H.K. Mahmood
A. The simple solution is to wear the ihraam garments on arrival in Jeddah. However, many scholars continue to consider Jeddah to be within the area of meeqat, and as such one should wear the ihraam before landing in Jeddah.
Even if we apply this view, the solution is as I have mentioned, because of the difficulty you have explained. It is beyond any person’s control to ensure that one starts the ihraam on the plane. Therefore, one does it at the first opportunity it can be done. There is no compensation required in this case, as the delay is due to circumstances over which one has no say.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) says: “My followers have been exempted from having to account for what they do by a genuine mistake, through forgetfulness, or what they are compelled to do.” Here is a case of compulsion brought about by the authorities for what they say to be security reasons.
Having said that, I should add that an increasing number of scholars, though still a minority, maintain that it is appropriate for all pilgrims and people traveling for Umrah to start their ihraam on arrival in Jeddah. They give different reasons in support of their view. One is that traveling by air does not mean that the traveler crosses the point of meeqat, because planes normally come to Jeddah over the sea. However, I feel that the most valid reason in support of this view is that Jeddah is outside the meeqat area, which is formed by an imaginary line connecting the points of meeqat defined by the Prophet. If we were to draw a line from Al-Juhfah or Rabigh to Yalamlam, we find that Jeddah falls outside it.
Whether we take this view or the one that this is caused by unavoidable conditions, the result is the same. One can start the ihraam in Jeddah, without incurring any contravention of the rules, and as such, no compensation is required.
