Preface

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Universe. May peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, the last of the Prophets and messengers, and upon his family and esteemed companions.

Hajj is one of the best forms of worship and is one of the most sublime deeds because it is one of the pillars of Islam that Allah sent Muhammad (peace be upon him) with. A servant's religion is incomplete without it.

A form of worship is only acceptable when the following is true.

• One devotes it to Allah alone, with a desire for the Hereafter. It cannot be done with the intention of being seen among men or for worldly gain.
• One follows the Prophet's example, in words deeds. This cannot accomplished except knowledge of the Sunnah.

Forms of Pilgrimage

There are three forms of Hajj:

Tamattu'- Ifrad - Qiran

• Tamattu':
  • A pilgrim wears Ihram for Umrah only during the months of Hajj, which means when he reaches Mecca, he makes Tawaf and Sa'i for Umrah.
  • He then shaves or clips his hair.
  • On the day of Tarwiyah, which is the eighth of Dhul-Hijjah, he puts on his Ihram for Hajj only and carries out all of its requirements.
• Ifrad:
  • A pilgrim wears Ihram for Hajj only.
  • When he reaches Mecca, he performs Tawaf for his arrival and Sa'i for Hajj.
  • He doesn't shave or clip his hair as he doesn't disengage from Ihram. Instead, he remains in Ihram till after he stones Jamrat Al-'Aqabah on the Eid day.
  • It is permissible for him to postpone his Sa'i for Hajj until after his Tawaf for Hajj.
• Qiran:
  • A pilgrim wears Ihram for both Umrah and Hajj or he wears Ihram first for Umrah, then makes intentions for Hajj before his Tawaf for Hajj.
  • The obligations on one performing Ifrad are the same as those on one performing Qiran, except that the latter must slaughter whereas the former is not obligated to do so. The best of the three forms is Tamattu'.
  • It is the form that the Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged his followers to perform.
  • Even if a pilgrim makes intentions to perform Qiran or Ifrad he is allowed to change his intentions to Tamattu'; he can do this even after he has performed Tawaf and Sa'i.

When the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed Tawaf and Sa'i during the year of the Farewell Hajj with his companions, he ordered all those who hadn't brought sacrificial animals to change their intentions for Hajj to intentions for Umrah, cut their hair, and disengage from Ihram till Hajj. He said, "If I hadn't brought the sacrificial animal, I'd have done what I've ordered you to do."

The Umrah

• If a pilgrim wishes to be ritually pure for Umrah, he should shed his clothing and bathe as he would after sexual defilement, if convenient. He should perfume his head and beard with the best oil he can find. There is no harm in what remains of it after Ihram.
• Bathing for Ihram is Sunnah for both men and women, including menstruating women and those experiencing postnatal bleeding. After bathing and preparing himself, a. pilgrim, other than those menstruating or experiencing postnatal bleeding, prays the obligatory prayer, if it is time.
  • Otherwise, he makes his intention by praying the two Sunnah Rak'ah which are made each time Wudu' is performed.
• When he finishes his prayer he should say: "Here I am for Umrah, here I am, Oh Allah, here I am. Here I am. You have no partner. Here I am. Surely all praise, grace and dominion is yours, and you have no partner." [Talbiyah].
  • A man raises his voice when saying this and a woman says it so that only one beside her may hear her.
• One in Ihram should say the Talbiyah as often as possible, especially when times and places change. For example: when descending or ascending during travel or when day or night approach. He should also ask Allah for His pleasure, for Heaven and seek refuge in Allah's mercy from Hellfire.
• One should say the Talbiyah during Umrah, starting from the time he puts on his Ihram till he starts Tawaf. During Hajj he should say it starting from the time he puts on his Ihram till he starts to stone Jamrat Al-Aqabah on the Eid day.