The author’s statement, “His Umrah is from outside the Sacred Precinct,” reflects the view of the majority of scholars: whoever is in Makkah and wishes to perform Umrah must enter ihram from outside the Sacred Precinct.
The evidence for this is that, when Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) to perform Umrah, he instructed her brother, Abd al-Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him), saying: “Take your sister out of the Sacred Precinct, and let her enter ihram for Umrah from outside the Sacred Precinct” (1). This shows that the Sacred Precinct is not the prescribed point for entering ihram for Umrah. Had it been so, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would not have instructed Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them both) to take his sister out and undergo the hardship that night so that she could enter ihram from outside the Sacred Precinct. For it is well known that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) chose what was easier, so long as the Sacred Law did not prevent it. Had it been permissible to enter ihram for Umrah from within the Sacred Precinct, he would have said to her: “Enter ihram from where you are.”
If someone were to ask: What do you say regarding the Prophet’s statement, “The people of Madinah enter ihram from Dhu al-Hulayfah” (2)? He then mentioned the appointed miqats and said: “Whoever is within those limits may enter ihram from wherever he is; even the people of Makkah, from Makkah” (3), although he said in the hadith: “for whoever intends Hajj or Umrah” (4). The apparent general meaning, then, is that the people of Makkah may perform Umrah from Makkah?