Types of Hajj

There are three types or methods of performing Hajj. The type you choose will depend on, whether you live in Makkah (Ifrad); you wish to perform Umrah and then Hajj (Tamattu); or you wish to perform Umrah and Hajj together in one niyah and also take with you your animal for sacrifice (Qiran). All three methods fulfill all the Islamic requirements for the Hajj.

Do you know?

1. What method the Prophet (Peace be Upon Him) performed?
2. What method the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) recommended?

Answers:

1. Qiran
2. Tamattu

 So fellow Muslims, the best method is Tamattu as recommended (instructed) by the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), as narrated in sahih Muslim:

When the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) performed tawaaf and sa’ee during the year of the Farewell Hajj with his companions, he ordered all those who hadn't brought sacrificial animals to change their niyah for Hajj to niyah for Umrah, cut their hair and disengage from Ihraam until Hajj. He said:

"If I had not brought the sacrificial animal, I would have done what I've ordered you to do."

Even after reading the above hadith, some people still argue that Qiran is the preferred method. For most pilgrims coming from overseas, Tamattu is the only method they can perform, because for Qiran or Ifrad, they will not be able to stay in Ihraam for that long apart from not being able to bring the sacrificial animal with them.

There are also some minor differences of opinion in the matter of when a pilgrim performs Umrah during the Hajj months and then leaves the Haram area. As an example: a pilgrim comes to Makkah and performs Umrah and then leaves for Jeddah or Riyadh or back overseas. The pilgrim returns to Makkah for Hajj. Can he or she now perform the Ifrad or Qiran method or is the Tamattu still valid?  Some scholars rule that once the pilgrim leaves the meqaat area, the Tamattu is “cancelled” and the pilgrim can now do Ifrad or Qiran, and has to do Umrah again in order to do satisfy the Tamattu rule. Another ruling is that it does not matter, as long as the Umrah was done in the Hajj months, the pilgrim remains a Mutamatti. In any case as mentioned earlier this should not affect most of the pilgrims. If you are unsure (or worried), after taking a trip to Jeddah, then just do Umrah again, if that will make your mind settled.

The 3 Methods of Hajj

1. Hajj Tamattu

• Hajj combined with Umrah with two niy'at, one for Umrah, and then one for Hajj.
• Pilgrim is called a Mutammati.

Regulations:

• Enter into Ihraam at the meqaat with the niyah for Umrah.
• Complete the Umrah during the Hajj months of the same year, and this must be completed before beginning the rites of Hajj.
• The first tawaaf made is that of Umrah and the welcome tawaaf (Qudoom) is not required.
• The performance of sa’ee is a must. This is sa’ee for Umrah and not for Hajj. The sa’ee for Hajj must be performed with Tawaaf-al-Ifadah.
• The Mutamatti should clip his hair after Umrah instead of shaving it to come out of the state of Ihraam after the sa’ee for Umrah. For males, if he has time before Hajj to re-grow his hair, then he should shave it (as it has more reward) after completing his Umrah.
• The Mutamatti MUST come out of the state of Ihraam after Umrah (all the Ihraam restrictions are lifted for the Mutamatti).
• Animal sacrifice is compulsory for the Mutamatti. If one cannot afford it, then one is required to fast for ten days. This applies to the Qaarin also.

"...But if someone cannot afford a sacrifice, he can fast three days during Hajj and seven days after returning home. That is ten days in all..."

Surah Al-Baqarah (2: part of ayah 196)

• The Mutamatti enters back into the state of Ihraam with the niyah for Hajj (second niyah), from where he is on the 8th of Dhul-Hijja, before departing for Mina.
• Those living in Makkah cannot perform this method of Hajj.

"...This is for him whose family is not present at Al-Masjid-al-Haram

 (i.e. non-resident of Makkah)…"

Surah Al-Baqarah (2: part of ayah 196)

2. Hajj Qiran

• Hajj combined with Umrah (one niyah) without coming out of Ihraam.
• Person is called a Qaarin.

Regulations:

• Enter into Ihraam at the meqaat with niyah for Umrah and Hajj.
• Animal sacrifice is compulsory (see under Tamattu).
• Some scholars rule that it is a prerequisite for the pilgrim to have the sacrificial animal with him. Meaning that if he did not have the animal with him he must perform the Tamattu method instead. Hence, the pilgrim who has the animal with him cannot change his niyah. However, the Qaarin who did not bring the animal with him SHOULD change his niyah to Tamattu. Some scholars rule it is a must!
• On arrival in Makkah the pilgrim performs Tawaaf-al-Qudoom (welcome tawaaf). This is optional, as the pilgrim may go directly to Mina on the 8th of Dhul-Hijja from the meqaat.
• The sa’ee for Hajj may also be performed with this tawaaf (recommended).
• The Qaarin must remain in Ihraam no matter how long the period between his arrival in Makkah and Hajj may be.
• Those living in Makkah cannot perform this method of Hajj (see under Tamattu).

3. Ifrad

• Hajj only (without Umrah)
• Person is called a Mufrid

Regulations:

• Enter into Ihraam at the meqaat with niyah for Hajj (only).
• Animal sacrifice is optional.
• Not to perform Umrah during the Hajj months of the same year.
• On arrival in Makkah the pilgrim performs Tawaaf-al-Qudoom (welcome tawaaf). This is optional, as the pilgrim may go directly to Mina on the 8th of Dhul-Hijja from the meqaat.
• The sa’ee for Hajj may also be performed with this tawaaf. If it is done here, it places the pilgrim in the same position as the Qaarin, with regards to the order of changing his niyah to Tamattu (except for the residents of Makkah).
• The Mufrid must remain in the state of Ihraam no matter how long the period between his arrival in Makkah and Hajj may be.
• This method of Hajj is for those living in Makkah or those within the meqaat area (see surah 2:196).
• If circumstances permit (time and one chooses to sacrifice), the Mufrid can change his niyah from Ifrad to Qiran or Tamattu. If he does this, then he should follow the rules accordingly, as described previously. Residents of Makkah cannot change their niyah.

Confused? Do not worry, you are not alone. The Tamattu method is the one the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) instructed us to perform (if all the requirements are met), so concentrate on understanding that method.

In all three methods, the pilgrim is allowed to change his/her Ihraam clothes with clean ones (not into normal clothes for men, but another Ihraam).