I intend to perform the obligatory Hajj, if Allaah wills, with my mother and wife this year. I have read that the best kind of Hajj is Tamattu’. So, what should I do? I live in the city of Jeddah and I wish that you instruct me about the best way to perform the Tamattu’ Hajj and whether or not I have to slaughter a Hady (sacrificial animal).

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.

A Muslim who intends to perform Hajj has the option of assuming Ihraam (ritual consecration) with any one of the three types of Hajj, namely, Ifraad, Qiraan, or Tamattu‘, and the best type is a Tamattu` Hajj. Thus, if one intends to commence the state of Ihraam with the Tamattu` Hajj and he lives in Jeddah, then he must assume the state of Ihraam from Jeddah, as indicated by a prophetic Hadeeth narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, when specifying the Mawaaqeet (plural of Meeqaat, which is the place specified for the pilgrims to commence their state of Ihraam), said: “…And whoever lives within these places should assume [the state of] Ihraam from his own dwelling place.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The description of the Tamattu` Hajj is as follows:

A pilgrim assumes the state of Ihraam with the intention of performing ‘Umrah (lesser pilgrimage). Assuming the state of Ihraam is the intention of commencing the rituals of ‘Umrah and then saying, “O Allaah, in response to your call I perform ‘Umrah then perform Tamattu` Hajj.” or saying, “O Allaah, in response to your call I perform ‘Umrah followed by Hajj,” then saying the Talbiyah, “Labbayka Allaahumma labbayk, labbayka la-shareeka laka labbayk. Innalhamda wanni‘mata laka walmulk, la shareeka lak. (O Allaah, here I am in response to Your call. There is no partner to be associated with You. Praise, grace and sovereignty are Yours. There is no partner to be associated with You).”

Upon arriving to Makkah, one should perform Tawaaf (circumambulation) for ‘Umrah, then make Sa‘y (walking between Mounts Safa and Marwah), then shave or shorten the hair. Shortening the hair in this case is preferable, so that some hair would be left to be shaved or shortened in Hajj. As one finishes Tawaaf, Sa‘y and shaving or shortening his hair, he ends the state of Ihraam for the ‘Umrah. After that, he should remain in Makkah until the 8th of Thul-Hijjah, when once again he should commence the state of Ihraam with the intention of performing Hajj and carry out all the rituals of Hajj, like all other pilgrims in terms of going to Mina on the 8th of Thul-Hijjah, standing within the area of ‘Arafah on the 9th and then depart after sunset to Muzdalifah and spend that night there. On the day of the 10th of Thul-Hijjah, he should go to Mina in order to stone the pebbles at the Jamrah (Pillar) of Al-'Aqabah and slaughter his Hady (sacrificial animal). This is the obligatory Hady for the Tamattu` Hajj, for Allaah Says (what means): {Then whoever performs ‘Umrah [during the Hajj months] followed by Hajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals.}[Quran 2:196]

After that, he should shave (or shorten) his hair, perform Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah and Sa‘y for his Hajj because the pilgrim who performs Tamattu` Hajj is required to perform Tawaaf and S a‘y  twice each – one Tawaaf and Sa‘y while performing his ‘Umrah, and another Tawaaf and Sa‘y of his Hajj. Then, he should spend two nights at Mina (11th and 12th). This is for the pilgrim who wishes to leave early, but those who wish to delay their departure and stay through the last night would spend three days (11th-13th).

During each of these days the pilgrim stones the three Jamaraat (pillars): Jamrat As-Sughra (the small pillar), Jamrat Al-Wusta (the middle pillar), and Jamrat Al-'Aqabah consecutively starting after zenith. Each Jamrah requires throwing seven pebbles the size of a chickpea that is thrown consecutively while saying, “Allaahu Akbar (Allaah is the Greatest).” with every pebble. Once he throws the Jamaraat on the days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th and 13th of Thul-Hijjah) and wants to return home, he should perform the Farewell Tawaaf, which is one of the obligatory rituals of Hajj. However, a woman who menstruates before performing this Tawaaf is not required to do it. By doing all these rituals, a pilgrim completes all his Hajj rituals.

The rituals of the Tamattu' Hajj are similar to the rituals of the Qiraan and Ifraad Hajj with the exception that the Tamattu' Hajj includes performing Tawaaf and two Sa‘y twice and that a pilgrim ends the state of Ihraam after his ‘Umrah and must slaughter a Hady. We advise our dear visitor to take a book explaining the rituals of Hajj with him to help him with all he needs to know about the Hajj rituals.

In the future, we advice him to immediately ask scholars whom he trusts whenever he encounters problems or is confused about any Sharee‘ah ruling.

Allaah Knows best.