From where should a person who did not pass the meeqaat enter ihraam?

Praise be to Allah.

If he does not pass any of these meeqaats, he should see where he comes in line with the nearest meeqaat and enter ihraam from there. If he passes along a route between Yalamlam and Qarn al-Manaazil, he should see which is closer, and when he comes in line with the one that is closer, he should enter ihraam from that point. This is indicated by the fact that the people of Iraq came to ‘Umar and said: “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stated that the meeqaat for the people of Najd was Qarn but it is far out of our way.” ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “See where you come in line with it on your route.” So he told them to see where they came in line with Qarn al-Manaazil and to enter ihraam from that point. This is how it is narrated in Saheeh al-Bukhaari. This ruling of ‘Umar's teaches us something important, which is that those who come by plane with the intention of performing Hajj and ‘Umrah, and pass these meeqaats from above or to the right or left, should enter ihraam when they come in line with these meeqaats, and it is not permissible for them to delay entering ihraam until they land in Jeddah, as many people do. That goes against what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught, and Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And whosoever transgresses the set limits of Allaah, then indeed he has wronged himself”

[al-Talaaq 65:1]

“And whoever transgresses the limits ordained by Allaah, then such are the Zaalimoon (wrongdoers)”

[al-Baqarah 2:229]

So if a person is coming by air with the intention of performing Hajj or ‘Umrah, he should be prepared to enter ihraam in the plane. When it comes in line with the first meeqaat that it passes by, he must enter ihraam, i.e., he should form the intention to enter into ihraam and he should not delay that until he enters the airport at Jeddah. End quote.