From where did the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) enter ihraam?

Praise be to Allah.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) entered ihraam from Dhu’l-Hulayfah (which is now called Abyaar ‘Ali), i.e., he entered ihraam for Hajj and ‘Umrah and started to recite the Talbiyah from there, not from Madeenah. That is because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) defined the meeqaats for the rituals of Hajj and ‘Umrah, and he stated that Dhu’l-Hulayfah was the meeqaat for the people of Madeenah. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would not command something then go against it. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) defined the meeqaat of the people of Madeenah as Dhu’l-Hulayfah; that of the people of Shaam (Syria) as al-Jahfah; that of the people of Najd as Qarn al-Manaazil; and that of the people of Yemen as Yalamlam. And he said: “And these meeqaats are for the people at those very places, and besides them for those who come thorough those places with the intention of performing Hajj and 'Umrah; and whoever is living within these boundaries can enter Ihram from the place he starts, and the people of Makkah can start from Makkah.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1524) and Muslim (1181).  

And it was narrated from Saalim ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with them) that he heard his father say: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) never entered ihraam except from the mosque” – meaning the mosque of Dhu’l-Hulayfah, Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1541), Muslim )1186). And he did ghusl in Dhu’l-Hulayfah too, because it was narrated from Khaarijah ibn Zayd that his father saw the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) changing his clothes and doing ghusl. Narrated and classed as hasan by al-Tirmidhi (classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Mishkaat, 2547). 

And Allaah is the Source of strength.