I want to perform Hajj this year. Is it permissible for me to perform ‘Umrah during the night of ‘Arafah and then go directly to ‘Arafah with the pilgrims?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

There is no harm in making ‘Umrah during the night of ‘Arafah and then going directly to ‘Arafah on the ninth day, because moving to Mina on the day of Tarwiyah (the eighth day of Thul-Hijjah) is a Sunnah not an obligation. It is recommended when you end the state of Ihraam (ritual consecration) of ‘Umrah to shorten your hair without having it shaved so as to leave some for Hajj. In Al-Muntaqa, the author said, “Maalik narrated in Al-Mukhtasar regarding the person who came to make ‘Umrah on the day of Tarwiyah that he should shorten his hair and not have it shaved. Shaykh Abu Bakr said that he should do that so as to keep his hair to have it shaved on the day of slaughtering. That is why he held that shortening the hair would be better.”

Allaah knows best.