Visiting Madinah Before Performing Umrah

21-9-2026 | IslamWeb

Question:

AoABrother what is hadith says about starting Umrah travel - first by visiting Madinah Munawara and than proceeding to Umrah journey from Madinah Munawara ?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His slave and Messenger.

There is no harm in a pilgrim who resides outside the Miqat boundaries beginning his journey with a visit to Madinah, then entering ihram from its miqat, which is Dhul-Hulayfah, currently known as Abyar 'Ali. This is because whoever passes by Madinah — not being one of its residents — while intending [to go to] Makkah for Hajj or 'Umrah, must enter ihram from its miqat, based on the statement of the Prophet (ﷺ) when he designated the miqats: “These are for them [i.e., the people of those regions], and for whoever passes through them from other than their own people, among those intending Hajj and 'Umrah.”

It is stated in *Sharh Mukhtasar Khalil* by al-Kharashi: “It is obligatory for the Najdi, the Iraqi, the Yemeni, and the people of all other lands... if they pass by al-Hulayfah, to enter ihram from it, since they do not go beyond it to [another] miqat of their own.” [End of quote]

Ibn Qudamah, may Allaah have mercy uponhim, said in *al-Mughni*: “These miqats are for their own people, and for whoever passes through them from other than their own people among those intending Hajj or 'Umrah.” [End of quote]

You should also know that visiting Madinah is not among the rites of 'Umrah or Hajj. So if the 'umrah-performer does not travel to Madinah during his 'umrah trip, there is nothing wrong with that, nor does it diminish the reward of his rite in any way.

Lastly, visiting the Prophet's Mosque is a recommended Sunnah, but it has no connection to 'Umrah or Hajj.

Allah Knows best.