The Case of One Who Commences (assumes) al-’Ihram Before the Designated Place

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who assumes the state of Ihram for al- Hajj. He does it in a month, which is other than the months of al-Hajj. It is at a place other than those designated by the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. He (the Imam) said, ‘His Ihram is not valid. If he likes, he can go to his home; and I do not see anything against him, or to continue and upon arriving at Miqat (place for assuming the state of Ihram), assume the state of Ihram at that point, and make it an al-‘Umrah. It is more virtuous than his returning home when he has already announced his state of Ihram for al- Hajj.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘The months of al-Hajj are well known; they are Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa’dah and Dhu al-Hajj ah. One must not assume the state of Ihram for al-Hajj in other months and one must not assume the state of Ihram before Mawaqit (places for assuming the state of Ihram) designated by the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. To do so is like performing four Rak‘ats Salat (prayer) on a journey and ignoring the fact that one’s duty is to perform two Rak‘ats only.’”

I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about a man who buys a Badanah before Miqat (place for assuming the state of Ihram) of his location, then marks and tags it: if it is obligatory on him thereafter to follow what a person in the state of Ihram does. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, when he arrives at Miqat, assumes the state of Ihram, then marks and tags his badanah because the first marking and tags are not valid.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One who assumes the state of Ihram for al-Hajj in the months that are not for al-Hajj; his Hajj is not valid, and one who assumes the state of Ihram from a non-Miqat (place for assuming the state of Ihram), his Ihram is not valid.’”

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), in al-Kufah, we narrate that Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘It is of the completion of al-Hajj and al-‘Umrah for one to assume the state of Ihram from the (sweet) home of his family.’ Is this what he (the Imam) has said?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), has said it about those whose homes are behind Miqat (place for assuming the state of Ihram) (closer to Makkah than Miqat to Makkah). Had it been as they say it is, the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, would prohibit saying, ‘You must not go with your clothes to al-Shajarah (Miqat (place for assuming the state of Ihram for people of al-Madinah)).”’

“I once went to see abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). My color had changed and he (the Imam) asked, ‘From where did you assume the state of Ihram?’ I replied, ‘From such and such place.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘There are many who seek goodness but their feet slip.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Will it make you happy to perform four Rak‘at for al-Zuhr Salat (prayer) on a journey?’ I replied, ‘No, it does not make me happy.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This (your assuming the state of Ihram) by Allah is like that (four Rak‘at on a journey).”’

“If one assumes the state of Ihram before Miqat (place for assuming the state of Ihram) and then involves with woman or hunting, there is nothing upon him.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say this Hadith. ‘It is not proper to assume the state of Ihram before Miqat. They are (places for assuming the state of Ihram) designated by the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, except when one is afraid of missing the month of al-‘Umrah.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about a man who travels for al-‘Umrah in the month of Rajab. It becomes the month of al-Sha‘ban before his reaching the Miqat (place for assuming the state of Ihram); should he assume the state of Ihram before Miqat, to make it al-‘Umrah of Rajab, or delay it until his reaching al-‘Aqiq and make it al-‘Umrah of the month of al-Sha‘ban? He (the Imam) said, ‘He can assume the state of Ihram, before Miqat, for al-‘Umrah of Rajab because Rajab has its virtue and that is what he had intended.’”