from the beginning of the journey to Makkah, no amorous discourse is allowed and sexual intercourse is therefore also forbidden: “So whoever determines to perform the pilgrimage therein, there shall be no amorous speech, nor abusing nor altercation in ḥajj” (2:197); nor is the use of scent allowed in the state of iḥrām, nor shaving, nor the paring of nails. The cares of the body are sacrificed for a few days to devote greater attention to the cares of the soul, and this is a practical lesson which serves a useful purpose on many occasions in one’s life.

Mīqāt or muhill

The state of iḥrām, as described above, may be entered upon at any time during the months of ḥajj, after the journey is undertaken; but as it would be too inconvenient to remain in this state for a long time, the law has fixed certain places on the different routes to Makkah, on reaching which the pilgrims enter upon a state of iḥrām. Such a place is called mīqāt (from waqt meaning time) meaning an appointed time, or a place in which a certain action is appointed to be performed. The mīqāt is also called a muhill (from ahalla meaning he raised his voice), which signifies the place of raising voices with talbiyah. The talbiyah consists in saying aloud labbaika Allāh-umma labbaika, meaning “Here am I, O Allāh! Here am I in Thy august presence.”12 As soon as the state of iḥrām is entered upon, with the determination to devote as little attention to the cares of the body as possible, the spiritual aspect of ḥajj is brought to mind by all the pilgrims crying aloud that they are in the august Divine presence. The place where iḥrām is entered upon is, therefore, also the place where voices are raised aloud for the remembrance of God, and the mīqāt, is, for that reason, also called the muhill. The several places appointed for iḥrām are: Dhu-l-Hulaifa for pilgrims coming from the direction of Madīnah, Juhfa for those coming from Syria and Egypt, Qarn al-Manāzil for those from Najd, Yalamlam for those from Yaman (among which are included all pilgrims from India, Pakistan, Indonesia and other countries, proceeding by boats via Aden) and Dhāt ‘Irq for those from Iraq (Bu. 25:7-13). For all places within these limits, the mīqāt is the place from which the pilgrim starts, and for the people of Makkah, the mīqāt is Makkah itself (Bu. 25:7).