What is the ruling on a الحاج who passed the الميقات without entering الإحرام?

Whoever passes the الميقات boundary intending الحج or العمرة without entering الإحرام has committed a violation and must return to the الميقات to enter الإحرام from there. If he does not return and enters الإحرام from a point beyond the الميقات, he must slaughter a sheep (dam) and distribute its meat to the poor of the Haram. This is the view of the majority of scholars. النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) designated the الميقات boundaries and said: 'These are for the people of those regions, and for whoever comes through them not being of their people, intending الحج or العمرة' (صحيح البخاري 1524, صحيح مسلم 1181). الشيخ ابن عثيمين stated in al-Sharh al-Mumti' (vol. 7, p. 86): 'Whoever passes the الميقات without entering الإحرام must return to it. If he does not return and enters الإحرام from beyond it, he must offer a dam.' The اللجنة الدائمة (Fatwa 4460) confirmed this ruling. For those traveling by air, they must enter الإحرام before the plane crosses over the الميقات boundary.