Passing the Miqat without assuming Ihram

Q: Last spring holiday, I took my wife and children to visit my sister in Al-Ta’if and to perform ‘Umrah and get some medical treatment in Jeddah. This was my original intention. However, what happened was that we stayed in Al-Ta’if for a day, then we went to Jeddah passing through Makkah, but we did not enter Ihram (ritual state for Hajj and ‘Umrah) from Al-Sayl. I thought that there was nothing wrong with this, as we were delaying ‘Umrah until our return from Jeddah. After we had finished in Jeddah, we entered Ihram for ‘Umrah. However, we forgot to offer two Rak‘ahs (units of Prayer) after Ihram. I thought there would be a Miqat (site for entering the ritual state for Hajj and ‘Umrah) on the road between Jeddah and Makkah, but there was not. We continued on our way to Al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque in Makkah) and performed ‘Umrah. When I came back to work, I told some of the teachers in the National Institute for Teaching Knowledge of the Shari‘ah (Islamic law) what had happened, and they said to me that I have to offer Damm (sacrificial animal offered as an atonement), for we should not have passed through Makkah without entering Ihram for ‘Umrah from the Miqat. I hope that Your Eminence can tell us the correct course of action and what we need to do in compensation. May Allah protect you.

A: A person who intends to perform ‘Umrah then passes by the Miqat should enter Ihram from that point. It is not permissible to overpass it without entering Ihram. As you did not enter Ihram from the Miqat, each of you must offer Damm (sacrificial animal offered as an atonement), which is slaughtering a sheep that meets the conditions for Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims). It should be slaughtered in Makkah Al-Mukarramah and its meat should be distributed among the poor there. You should not eat any part of it. There is no blame placed on you for forgetting to offer two Rak‘ahs after wearing the Ihram clothing. (Part No. 11; Page No. 177) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions.