Hajj, Umrah, and the three ways of combining them

Account of Hajj and Umrah

Explanation of Hajj, Umrah, Ifrad, Tamattuʿ, and Qiran, along with their Related Matters

Hajj refers to the act of entering into the state of Ihram and staying in Arafat, as well as performing Tawaf al-Ziyarah (the Tawaf of the sacred precincts) at specific times.

Umrah refers to entering into the state of Ihram, performing Tawaf of the Ka'bah, and performing the Sa'i (walking between Safa and Marwah). In Umrah, there are no Tawafs of arrival (Tawaf al-Qudum) or farewell (Tawaf al-Wada'), while these two are part of Hajj. The first is a Sunnah, and the second is an obligation in Hajj.

Hajj is unanimously considered obligatory (Fard), whereas Umrah is considered a Sunnah according to Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Malik. However, according to Imam Shafi’i, Umrah is also obligatory, similar to Hajj.

Ifrad means performing Hajj alone in such a manner that one does not perform Umrah during that year, or one performs it after the days of Hajj or during the month of Shawwal.

Ifrad refers to performing Umrah alone in such a manner that one does not perform Hajj during that year, or if one performs Hajj, then one does the Umrah before Shawwal or after the days of Hajj.

Tamattu means entering the state of Ihram during the months of Hajj, performing the rituals of Umrah, and then, either before returning to one’s home or after returning, performing Hajj as well. However, if a person brings an animal for sacrifice, it is not permissible for them to enter a state of Ihram for Hajj before becoming halal after performing Umrah.

Qiran means combining Hajj and Umrah by performing both rituals under one state of Ihram during the Hajj months. This can also mean entering the Ihram for Hajj with the intention to perform Umrah before the Tawaf of Umrah or combining the Ihram of Umrah with the Ihram of Hajj before returning from Arafat. In the last case, one would be considered sinful.

In Tamattu, two states of Ihram and two Talbiya are necessary in one journey, whereas in Qiran, one Ihram, one Talbiya, and a single journey are required. Both Tamattu and Qiran require a sacrifice, whether the animal is taken with them from the Miqat or not. A person performing Qiran incurs two compensations for any sin, while someone performing Ifrad or Tamattu incurs one. However, if someone performing Tamattu does not exit from the state of Ihram for Umrah and commits an act that involves a sin after entering the state of Ihram for Hajj, they are treated as if they are performing Qiran.

The reason for naming Ifrad and Qiran is apparent, but the reason for naming Tamattu is that a person performing Tamattu can benefit from the things that are forbidden during Ihram between the Ihrams for Umrah and Hajj. This is different from Qiran, as if a person in Qiran engages in such acts after Umrah, for example, shaving their head, a sacrifice becomes obligatory.

For someone from the Afaqi (out of the Makkah region), all three options — Ifrad, Qiran, and Tamattu — are valid. However, for a Makki (one living in Makkah), Qiran or Tamattu should not be performed. If they do, a dam (sacrifice) becomes obligatory. This is the confirmed ruling.

An Afaqi refers to a person who resides outside the Miqat ]the designated boundary for Ihram[. According to Imam Abu Hanifa, it refers to a person who is not an Afaqi, whether they live specifically in Makkah, near the Miqat, or within Makkah's vicinity. According to Imam Malik, the term refers specifically to one who resides in Makkah. Meanwhile, Imam Shafi’i considers both those residing in Makkah and those not far from it, i.e., at a distance permissible for travel under Shariah, as being in the same category.