The ruling on one who passes the miqat without entering ihram

Question: What is the ruling on one who passes the miqat without entering ihram, whether for Hajj, 'Umrah, or for another purpose?

Answer: If one passes the miqat for Hajj or 'Umrah and does not enter ihram, it is obligatory for him to return and enter ihram for Hajj and 'Umrah from the miqat; because the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded that. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: This is how it came in the authentic hadith. And Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) designated Dhul-Hulayfah for the people of Madinah, al-Juhfah for the people of the Levant, Qarn al-Manazil for the people of Najd, and Yalamlam for the people of Yemen; these are for them and for whoever comes upon them from among those who are not of their people, from those who intend Hajj and 'Umrah."
So if his intention is Hajj or 'Umrah, he must enter ihram from the miqat he passes. If he is from the route of Madinah, he enters ihram from Dhul-Hulayfah. If he is from the route of the Levant, Egypt, or the Maghreb, he enters ihram from al-Juhfah, which is now Rabigh. If he is from the route of Yemen, he enters ihram from Yalamlam. If he is from the route of Najd or Ta'if, he enters ihram from Wadi Qarn, which is called Qarn al-Manazil, and is now called al-Sayl, and some people call it Wadi Muharram. He enters ihram from there for Hajj or 'Umrah, or for both together.
And it is better, if he is in the months of Hajj, to enter ihram for 'Umrah, so he circumambulates for it, performs sa'y, shortens his hair, and exits the state of ihram, then he enters ihram for Hajj at its time. And if he passed the miqat in other than the months of Hajj, such as Ramadan or Sha'ban, he enters ihram for 'Umrah only. This is what is prescribed.
As for if he came for another purpose, not intending Hajj or 'Umrah, but only came to Makkah for selling or buying, or to visit some of his relatives and friends, or for another purpose, and did not intend Hajj or 'Umrah, then there is no ihram required of him according to the correct view. He may enter without ihram. This is the stronger of the two opinions of the scholars, and the best is that he enters ihram for 'Umrah to take advantage of the opportunity.