Traveling to KSA for Hajj/Omrah from abroad, especially from China, can be confusing regarding the act of consecration (Ihram). Although you will read about this topic in detail within Hajj materials; it was important to declare this issue here chronologically to help taking the right decision.
The house of Allah (Ka'bah) is surrounded with 6 points (miqat) that form a siege called "Alharrm Almakki". Muslims intend to visit Makkah for Omrah or Hajj shouldn't cross this siege without Ihram. In a hadith narrated by Imam Nasa’i (Manasik al-Hajj, 22), ‘A’isha (r.a.) declared that "Allah’s Messenger (s.w.s.) established the miqat for the people of Madina at Dhu’l-Hulayfa, for the people of Syria and Egypt at al-Juhfa, for the people of Iraq at Dhat Irq, and for the people of Najd at Qarn, and for the Yemenis at Yalamlam", In case a Muslim comes to Makkah for Hajj and Omrah without Ihram he/she should go back to the point he/she passed beside; otherwise, he/she should slaughter a sacrifice. Ibnai Abbass (r.a.) narrated "whom forgot one of the rituals must sacrifice".
* Ihram is to intend (by heart) doing Omrah/Hajj and to recite the following at miqat (Here I am O Allah, making Omrah/Hajj). Meanwhile, a man should be in a dress of Ihram as described in the downloaded material.
* The main problem is that, a passenger coming from china will pass over the miqat called (Qarnul-Manazil or Sayel Kabeer; 150 km from Jeddah). Therefore, he has two options:
1- To perform Ihram in the plane when it pass over that miqat ( 200km to Jeddah considering the speed of the plane). You can ask the hostess or get this information from the entertainment terminal , or you can doing Ihram when the plane pass near Dubai (for Cathay Pacific passenger, there will be 1 hour landing in Dubai ).
In this case, Hajji should go to Makkah first; otherwise, he can't take off Ihram dress until finishing Tawaf Alkodom.
2- Not to perform Ihram. In this case passenger must visit Madinah first, then performing Ihram, after, from the miqat called (ZulHulifa).
* Both cases are are valid regarding many Fatwa as follows:
- دار الإفتاء المصريه اضغط بحث إذا لم تظهر الفتوى مباشرة
- ـ سؤال رقم 23 من فتاوي ابن عثيمين
- ـ موقع اسلام ويب
However, i strongly recommend to visit Madinah first for many reasons:
1- Motawef (bureau in authority) could make some troubles to stop you to visit Madinah, for example he will ask you to submit a hotel receipt or contract for your residence in Madinah before visiting.
2- Ihram clothes is not comfortable and will be very annoying during the Check in process. Also, more problems come out if you are going to find a place to stay in Makkah.
3- Usually, you will finish the Check in process at night, so it will be very difficult to Make "Tawaf Alkodom" otherwise, you will sleep that night in Ihram dress until finishing "Tawaf Alkodom".
4- Makkah nearer to Jeddah than Madina, this will make the returning back more easier.
A'ishah (r.a.) said: “Allah’s Messenger (s) whenever he is given the opportunity to choose between two affairs, he always chooses the easiest and the most convenient. But if he is certain that it is sinful, he will be as far as he could from it.
The house of Allah (Ka'bah) is surrounded with 6 points (miqat) that form a siege called "Alharrm Almakki". Muslims intend to visit Makkah for Omrah or Hajj shouldn't cross this siege without Ihram. In a hadith narrated by Imam Nasa’i (Manasik al-Hajj, 22), ‘A’isha (r.a.) declared that "Allah’s Messenger (s.w.s.) established the miqat for the people of Madina at Dhu’l-Hulayfa, for the people of Syria and Egypt at al-Juhfa, for the people of Iraq at Dhat Irq, and for the people of Najd at Qarn, and for the Yemenis at Yalamlam", In case a Muslim comes to Makkah for Hajj and Omrah without Ihram he/she should go back to the point he/she passed beside; otherwise, he/she should slaughter a sacrifice. Ibnai Abbass (r.a.) narrated "whom forgot one of the rituals must sacrifice".
* Ihram is to intend (by heart) doing Omrah/Hajj and to recite the following at miqat (Here I am O Allah, making Omrah/Hajj). Meanwhile, a man should be in a dress of Ihram as described in the downloaded material.
* The main problem is that, a passenger coming from china will pass over the miqat called (Qarnul-Manazil or Sayel Kabeer; 150 km from Jeddah). Therefore, he has two options:
1- To perform Ihram in the plane when it pass over that miqat ( 200km to Jeddah considering the speed of the plane). You can ask the hostess or get this information from the entertainment terminal , or you can doing Ihram when the plane pass near Dubai (for Cathay Pacific passenger, there will be 1 hour landing in Dubai ).
In this case, Hajji should go to Makkah first; otherwise, he can't take off Ihram dress until finishing Tawaf Alkodom.
2- Not to perform Ihram. In this case passenger must visit Madinah first, then performing Ihram, after, from the miqat called (ZulHulifa).
* Both cases are are valid regarding many Fatwa as follows:
- دار الإفتاء المصريه اضغط بحث إذا لم تظهر الفتوى مباشرة
- ـ سؤال رقم 23 من فتاوي ابن عثيمين
- ـ موقع اسلام ويب
However, i strongly recommend to visit Madinah first for many reasons:
1- Motawef (bureau in authority) could make some troubles to stop you to visit Madinah, for example he will ask you to submit a hotel receipt or contract for your residence in Madinah before visiting.
2- Ihram clothes is not comfortable and will be very annoying during the Check in process. Also, more problems come out if you are going to find a place to stay in Makkah.
3- Usually, you will finish the Check in process at night, so it will be very difficult to Make "Tawaf Alkodom" otherwise, you will sleep that night in Ihram dress until finishing "Tawaf Alkodom".
4- Makkah nearer to Jeddah than Madina, this will make the returning back more easier.
A'ishah (r.a.) said: “Allah’s Messenger (s) whenever he is given the opportunity to choose between two affairs, he always chooses the easiest and the most convenient. But if he is certain that it is sinful, he will be as far as he could from it.