Miqat Yalamlam

Miqat Yalamlam is one of the Mawaqit that those intending to enter Makkah al-Mukarramah for Hajj or Umrah must pass through to assume Ihram. Passing through or alongside it is required for entering into the rituals of Hajj and Umrah for Muslims. It is located in al-Lith Governorate, about eighty-five km southwest of Makkah al-Mukarramah, along the coastal road. It is the Miqat for the people of Yemen, the southern provinces of the Kingdom, and those who pass by it.

Miqat Yalamlam is the Miqat designated by the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (PBUH), for the people of Yemen coming to Makkah al-Mukarramah via both the inland and coastal routes, both of which pass between the sea and the Sarawat Mountains.

People currently assume Ihram from the new al-Sa’diyah Mosque, located south of Makkah al-Mukarramah, 130 km away from it and twenty-one km from the original Miqat location. The mosque is situated on the northern bank of the Yalamlam Valley, near al-Sa’diyah well.

Miqat Yalamlam is named after a large valley whose waters flow down from al-Shafa Mountains, southwest of Taif, then westward south of Makkah al-Mukarramah, and into the Red Sea. Miqat Yalamlam holds historical significance, with its remnants concentrated in the southern part of the Yalamlam Valley. Among the discoveries at the site are the remains of water structures, including al-Sa’diyah well, and an inscription on a marble slab recording the renovation of the well, dated 1796.

Miqat Yalamlam has undergone several development projects, including urban improvement projects and restructuring of public service areas provided to visitors and those heading to the Grand Mosque. These efforts aim to enhance the quality of services. The mosque at the Miqat, which covers an area of ten thousand m and accommodates more than four thousand worshippers, has had its carpets renewed. The site employs around 105 staff and workers. Additionally, a water desalination plant nearby pumps about 1,500 t of desalinated water, and there is a reception hall for visitors heading to the Grand Mosque, covering an area of six thousand m.

There are five Mawaqit, established by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and it is not permissible for the pilgrims or Umrah performers to pass them on their way to Makkah al-Mukarramah without entering the state of Ihram. They are Dhu al-Hulayfah for the residents of al-Madinah, al-Juhfah for those coming from the Levant, Qarn al-Manazil for those coming from Najd, Yalamlam for those coming from Yemen, and Dhat Irq for those coming from Iraq.