Masjid Ayesha: quick facts
| Also called | Masjid Aisha, Aisha Mosque, Masjid e Ayesha, Masjid al-Tan’eem (Taneem Mosque) |
| Location | At-Tan’eem district, north-west Makkah, on the road towards Madinah |
| Distance from the Haram | About 7.5 km (15–30 minutes by car) |
| Is it a miqat? | No. It is the nearest point outside the Haram boundary, used by people already inside Makkah |
| Who uses it | Residents of Makkah and pilgrims staying in Makkah who want to perform another Umrah |
| Size | About 6,000 m² mosque on an 84,000 m² site, for roughly 15,000 worshippers |
| Hadith source | Sahih al-Bukhari 1784 and 1785 |
| Private round trip | From 100 SAR, hotel pickup, 20–30 minutes of waiting included |
Masjid Ayesha in Makkah is the mosque where pilgrims who are already in the city go to enter Ihram for another Umrah. You will also see it written as Masjid Aisha, Aisha Mosque, Masjid e Ayesha and Masjid al-Tan’eem. They are all the same place.
It is also one of the most misunderstood places in Makkah. Websites disagree on how far it is, many call it a miqat when it is not, and old videos still promise a free bus. This guide clears that up, with sources, and explains exactly how a visit works. It was last updated in October 2026.
What Is Masjid Ayesha?
Masjid Ayesha is a mosque in the At-Tan’eem district of Makkah, built at the place where Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) entered Ihram for Umrah on the instruction of the Prophet ï·º. It stands just outside the boundary of the Haram, which is why people who are already in Makkah travel there to begin a new Umrah.
Its official name is Masjid al-Tan’eem, after the district. Most pilgrims call it Masjid Ayesha or Masjid Aisha, and some call it Masjid al-Umrah, “the Umrah mosque”, because of what it is used for. According to Saudipedia, the mosque covers about 6,000 square metres within an 84,000 square metre site and can hold around 15,000 worshippers.
Where Is Masjid Ayesha? Location and Map
Masjid Ayesha is in At-Tan’eem, in the north-west of Makkah, on the road that leads towards Madinah. Its coordinates are approximately 21.4677° N, 39.8013° E. The mosque is easy to recognise from the road by its two tall minarets and its large car and bus park.
If you are searching on your phone, type “Masjid Aisha” or “Masjid al-Taneem” into your maps app. Be careful with the result you choose: there are mosques named after Aisha in many other cities and countries, so check that the pin is in Makkah.
How Far Is Masjid Ayesha from the Haram?
Masjid Ayesha is about 7.5 km from Masjid al-Haram, which is a 15 to 30 minute drive depending on traffic. It is the closest point to the Haram where a person inside Makkah can enter Ihram for Umrah.
You will find other numbers online, anywhere from 5 km to 10 km. The differences come from where the measurement starts (the Kaaba, the edge of the mosque, or the city centre) and whether it is a straight line or a driving route.
| Source | Distance given | How it is measured |
|---|---|---|
| Saudipedia | 7.5 km | North of the Grand Mosque, along the Makkah–Madinah road |
| Google Maps driving route | 7.8 km, about 18 minutes | By road from Masjid al-Haram, checked October 2026 |
| Wikipedia | About 8 km (5 miles) | From the Kaaba |
For planning, use 7.5 to 8 km and 15 to 30 minutes each way. Your own distance depends on your hotel: Ajyad and the Clock Tower side are slightly further than hotels on the northern side of the Haram. A complete round trip, including time at the mosque, usually takes 1 to 1.5 hours.
Is Masjid Ayesha a Miqat?
No. Masjid Ayesha is not one of the miqats. It is the nearest point of al-Hill, the area outside the Haram boundary, and it is used by people who are already inside Makkah and want to enter Ihram for Umrah. Many websites call it a miqat, but that is not accurate.
The miqats were fixed by the Prophet ï·º in the hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (Sahih al-Bukhari 1524): Dhul-Hulayfah for the people of Madinah, Al-Juhfah for the people of Sham, Qarn al-Manazil for the people of Najd, and Yalamlam for the people of Yemen. Masjid Ayesha is not among them.
So why do people go there? Scholars explain that someone inside Makkah who wants to perform Umrah goes out beyond the Haram boundary to enter Ihram, as Aisha was told to do. This is explained in IslamQA’s answer on the miqat for people in Makkah. Tan’eem is simply the closest place to do that.
In everyday speech, pilgrims and drivers often say “Masjid Ayesha miqat”. The meaning is understood, but strictly it is a place of Ihram for people in Makkah, not a miqat for travellers.
Who Can Enter Ihram at Masjid Ayesha, and Who Cannot
Masjid Ayesha is for people who are already in Makkah. It is not the place to begin your first Umrah if you are arriving from another country or city. This is the most common confusion among first-time pilgrims.
| Your situation | Where you enter Ihram |
|---|---|
| You are staying in Makkah, have finished your Umrah, and want to perform another | Masjid Ayesha (or another point outside the Haram boundary, such as Ji’ranah) |
| You live in Makkah and want to perform Umrah | Masjid Ayesha (or another point outside the Haram boundary) |
| You are flying or driving to Saudi Arabia for Umrah | The miqat on your route, before you reach Makkah. Not Masjid Ayesha |
| You are travelling from Madinah to Makkah for Umrah | Dhul-Hulayfah (Abyar Ali), the miqat of Madinah |
Two more points people often ask about:
- It is for men and women. The mosque is named after Aisha, but it is not only for women. Anyone in Makkah who intends Umrah can enter Ihram there.
- If you have already passed your miqat without Ihram, do not assume Masjid Ayesha solves it. Ask a qualified scholar what applies in your case.
If you are coming from Madinah with us, our Madinah to Makkah taxi can stop at the miqat on the way so you can enter Ihram there. Just tell us when you book. Coming from Taif or Najd instead? Your miqat is Qarn al-Manazil: see our Taif miqat guide.
How to Get to Masjid Ayesha: Bus, Taxi or Private Car
There are three ways to reach Masjid Ayesha from the Haram: the public Makkah Bus, a street taxi, or a pre-booked private car that waits for you. The bus is the cheapest. A private car is the easiest, and for a family it is often the best value.
| Makkah Bus | Street taxi | Pre-booked private car | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | About 4 SAR per person, each way | Around 60 SAR round trip, negotiated; more in Ramadan and Hajj season | From 100 SAR per car, round trip, fixed |
| Pickup | Bus station, a 15–20 minute walk from the Haram | Wherever you can find one | Your hotel entrance |
| Waits while you enter Ihram | No, you take the next bus back | Only if agreed, often for extra | Yes, 20–30 minutes included |
| Suits | Fit adults travelling light at quiet hours | One or two people who are comfortable negotiating | Families, elderly pilgrims, groups, anyone short of time |
By bus
Makkah Bus runs public routes from the stations around the Haram to At-Tan’eem, and the official timetables list a stop named “Ayesha Mosque”. Pilgrims most often report using route 12 from the Jabal al-Kaaba terminal. The fare is about 4 SAR per trip, paid with the Makkah Bus app or a bank card.
Is the bus to Masjid Ayesha free? Not any more. The service was free in its early period, so older videos still describe a free bus. Tickets are now charged. Routes and stops can change in Ramadan and Hajj season, so check the route in the Makkah Bus app on the day you travel.
By street taxi
Taxis wait near the Haram and drivers often call out “Masjid Ayesha”. Agree the full price before you get in, and be clear that it includes the return journey and the waiting time. A cheap one-way fare often becomes an expensive round trip.
By pre-booked private car
With Flyer Umrah Taxi, the driver collects you from your hotel, takes you to Masjid Ayesha, waits 20–30 minutes while you enter Ihram, and brings you back to the Haram. The price is fixed per vehicle, not per person, and starts at 100 SAR for a round trip. A family of six in a 7-seat Staria pays 130 SAR in total, which is about 22 SAR each.
For the price of every vehicle, see our guide to the taxi fare from Haram to Masjid Ayesha.
Round trip to Masjid Ayesha from 100 SAR
Hotel pickup · driver waits while you enter Ihram · fixed price per car
How to Perform Umrah from Masjid Ayesha (Step by Step)
To perform Umrah from Masjid Ayesha, you travel there from Makkah, enter Ihram with the intention of Umrah, return to Masjid al-Haram, and complete Tawaf, Sa’i and the cutting or shaving of the hair. The trip to the mosque and back usually takes 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Prepare at your hotel. Many pilgrims take a bath (ghusl) before leaving. Men can put on the two Ihram sheets at the hotel or change at the mosque.
- Travel to Masjid Ayesha. Wearing the Ihram clothing on the way is fine. You are not in the state of Ihram until you make the intention.
- Make wudu and pray. Many pilgrims pray two rak’ah in the mosque. If it is the time of an obligatory prayer, pray that.
- Make the intention (niyyah) for Umrah and recite the Talbiyah. From this moment the rules of Ihram apply. Men recite the Talbiyah aloud; women recite it quietly.
- Return to Masjid al-Haram. Keep reciting the Talbiyah on the way.
- Perform Tawaf and Sa’i, then shorten or shave the hair. Men shave or trim; women trim a small amount. Your Umrah is then complete.
This is practical travel guidance, not a religious ruling. For the detailed rules of Ihram and Umrah, follow a scholar you trust.
Can You Do More Than One Umrah from Masjid Ayesha?
Scholars differ on repeating Umrah several times in one visit. Many pilgrims do perform a second Umrah from Masjid Ayesha, often on behalf of a parent or a relative who has passed away, and many scholars permit this. Others consider it disliked to repeat Umrah again and again in a short stay, because the Prophet ï·º and his Companions are not reported to have done so.
Both views are set out by IslamOnline and SeekersGuidance. If you are unsure, ask a scholar from the school you follow before you travel.
On the practical side, each Umrah needs a new trip out of the Haram boundary and back. If you plan more than one, leave a rest day between them. Tawaf and Sa’i are physically demanding, especially in the heat.
Why Is It Called Masjid Ayesha? The History
The mosque is named after Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet ï·º, because she entered Ihram for Umrah at this place during the Farewell Pilgrimage in 10 AH (632 CE).
Aisha had set out intending Umrah, but her monthly period began before she could perform Tawaf. She completed the rites of Hajj, and afterwards told the Prophet ï·º that others were returning with both Hajj and Umrah while she had only Hajj. He instructed her brother, Abdur-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr, to take her to At-Tan’eem so she could enter Ihram and perform Umrah from there. This is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 1784 and 1785.
How the mosque was built
- 3rd century AH (9th century CE): the first mosque on the site is attributed to the governor of Makkah, Abu al-Abbas Abdullah ibn Muhammad, in the time of the Abbasid caliph al-Mutawakkil. The date usually given is 240 AH, around 854 CE.
- Reign of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz: the mosque was rebuilt in its present form at a cost of about 100 million riyals, according to Saudipedia.
- Today: a 6,000 square metre mosque with two minarets on an 84,000 square metre site, with space for about 15,000 worshippers.
Facilities at Masjid Ayesha
Masjid Ayesha is set up for pilgrims entering Ihram, with washrooms, wudu areas, showers and changing rooms, and separate sections for men and women. You can arrive in ordinary clothes and do everything there.
- Wudu areas, washrooms and showers for men and women.
- Changing rooms for putting on Ihram.
- A separate prayer area for women.
- Shops and stalls outside selling Ihram sheets, belts, sandals and other Umrah essentials, useful if you have forgotten something.
- A large parking area for buses, taxis and private cars.
Bring only what you need: your Ihram, a small bag, your phone and your hotel card. Keep your driver’s number so you can find each other in the car park.
Best Time to Go to Masjid Ayesha
The quietest times are usually late at night and the hours after Fajr. Roads around the Haram are slowest just before and after each of the five daily prayers.
- Avoid leaving right before a prayer. Roads near the Haram close up and you may miss the congregation.
- Thursday night and Friday are busier than other days.
- In Ramadan, especially the last ten nights, expect heavy traffic and crowds. Book transport in advance.
- In summer, go at night or early morning to avoid the midday heat during Tawaf and Sa’i.
Masjid Ayesha vs Masjid Ji’ranah
Masjid Ayesha and Masjid Ji’ranah (also written Jurana or Jirranah) are both places outside the Haram boundary where people in Makkah enter Ihram for Umrah. Masjid Ayesha is much closer, so most pilgrims use it.
| Masjid Ayesha (Tan’eem) | Masjid Ji’ranah | |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from the Haram | About 7.5 km | About 24 km |
| Direction | North-west, towards Madinah | North-east |
| Historical link | Aisha entered Ihram here in 10 AH (Bukhari 1784, 1785) | The Prophet ï·º performed Umrah from here in 8 AH, after the Battle of Hunayn (Bukhari 1778) |
| Status | Outside the Haram boundary. Not a miqat | Outside the Haram boundary. Not a miqat |
| Round trip time | About 1 to 1.5 hours | Longer, because of the extra distance |
| Best for | Most pilgrims, especially families and the elderly | Pilgrims who wish to enter Ihram where the Prophet ï·º did |
We drive pilgrims to both. Tell us which you prefer when you message us and we will confirm the fare. If you would like to see the historical sites of Makkah as well, our Makkah Ziyarat taxi covers them in one private tour.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Planning your first Umrah from Masjid Ayesha. If you are arriving from outside, enter Ihram at the miqat on your route.
- Agreeing a one-way taxi fare. You almost always need to come straight back. Agree a round trip price that includes waiting.
- Relying on an old “free bus” video. Check the current route and fare in the Makkah Bus app.
- Leaving just before a prayer. You will sit in traffic and may miss the congregation.
- Forgetting the intention. Wearing the Ihram sheets is not the same as entering Ihram. Make your niyyah before you leave the mosque.
- Booking a car that is too small. Count adults, children and any wheelchair, then choose from our vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Masjid Ayesha is not one of the miqats fixed by the Prophet ï·º. It is the nearest point outside the Haram boundary, and it is used by people already inside Makkah who want to enter Ihram for Umrah.
Masjid Ayesha is about 7.5 km from Masjid al-Haram. The drive takes 15 to 30 minutes each way depending on traffic, and a full round trip including time at the mosque takes about 1 to 1.5 hours.
Not if you are arriving from outside Makkah for Umrah. In that case you enter Ihram at the miqat on your route before you reach Makkah. Masjid Ayesha is for people who are already in Makkah.
Yes, if you are already in Makkah. You enter Ihram at Masjid Ayesha, return to Masjid al-Haram, and perform Tawaf and Sa’i, then cut or shave your hair.
No. The mosque is named after Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, but men and women both enter Ihram there.
No. Masjid Ayesha is in At-Tan’eem, just outside the Haram boundary, in the area known as al-Hill. That is the reason pilgrims go there to enter Ihram.
Yes. You can put on the Ihram clothing at your hotel and travel in it. You enter the state of Ihram when you make the intention for Umrah, which you do at Masjid Ayesha.
The Makkah Bus was free in its early period, but tickets are now charged, at about 4 SAR per trip. Check the current route and fare in the Makkah Bus app before you travel.
With Flyer Umrah Taxi, a private round trip from your hotel starts at 100 SAR per car, with 20 to 30 minutes of waiting included. A street taxi is usually around 60 SAR for a negotiated round trip.
Masjid Ayesha is closer. It is about 7.5 km from Masjid al-Haram, while Masjid Ji’ranah is about 24 km away.
Book Your Round Trip to Masjid Ayesha
Masjid Ayesha in Makkah is about 7.5 km from the Haram, it is not a miqat, and it is the place where pilgrims already in the city enter Ihram for another Umrah. If you would like to go without the walk to the bus station or a negotiation on the street, we can take you from your hotel door and wait while you enter Ihram.
Send us your hotel name, your preferred time and the number of people. We will confirm your car and your fixed price straight away. Arriving by air? We also run a Jeddah Airport to Makkah taxi.
Masjid Ayesha round trip from 100 SAR
Hotel pickup · 20–30 min waiting · Fixed price per car