❀ The Most Virtuous Type of Hajj and the Excellence of Hajj al-Tamattuʿ ❀
🖋 Question:
Which type of Hajj is best for us, considering that we have already deposited money with our agent for the sacrificial animal?
✅ Answer:
There are three types of Hajj. It is essential to understand each one clearly in order to determine which type you should choose:
➊ Hajj al-Tamattuʿ:
- From the Miqāt, one makes niyyah only for ʿUmrah, saying:
“Labbayka Allāhumma ʿUmrah”
- Perform Tawāf upon arrival in Makkah, offer two rakʿahs at Maqām Ibrāhīm, perform Saʿī between Ṣafā and Marwah, then cut the hair and exit the state of iḥrām.
- Resume normal life until the 8th of Dhul-Ḥijjah, then enter iḥrām again, this time for Hajj, and perform the rituals of Hajj.
➋ Hajj al-Qirān:
- From the Miqāt, make niyyah for both ʿUmrah and Hajj together.
- Perform ʿUmrah on arrival in Makkah, but do not exit iḥrām.
- Remain in the state of iḥrām until the completion of Hajj, starting from the 8th of Dhul-Ḥijjah.
➌ Hajj al-Ifrād:
- Enter iḥrām with intention for Hajj only.
- Perform Ṭawāf Qudūm and Saʿī, but remain in iḥrām, and proceed to Minā and complete the rituals of Hajj.
❓ Which One is Best?
While all three types are valid by scholarly consensus, there is difference of opinion regarding which is most virtuous (afḍal).
✦ Some scholars consider
✦ Others consider
📜 Evidence:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Had I known earlier what I came to know later, I would not have brought the sacrificial animal with me.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Bāb Qawl an-Nabiyy: Law istakbaltu min amrī mā istadabartu – ḥadīth 7229; Abū Dāwūd 1784]
Those companions who had not brought sacrificial animals and had entered iḥrām for Qirān, the Prophet ﷺ instructed them to:
➤ Complete the ʿUmrah,
➤ Exit iḥrām,
➤ Change intention to Tamattuʿ
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1218; al-Bayhaqī 4/338]
Some companions misunderstood this as a recommendation, and did not exit iḥrām. The Prophet ﷺ expressed strong displeasure at this:
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 8/654–155; Ibn Khuzaymah 2606; al-Bayhaqī 5/19; Musnad Aḥmad 6/175]
As narrated by ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها
✅ Conclusion:
Given that the Prophet ﷺ wished he had performed Hajj al-Tamattuʿ, and that he commanded those without sacrificial animals to do so, and expressed displeasure when they did not — it is evident that Hajj al-Tamattuʿ is the most virtuous.
This is also the view of many scholars as recorded in:
- Nayl al-Awṭār 4/130–131
- al-Fatḥ ar-Rabbānī 11/90–99
Thus, Hajj al-Tamattuʿ is preferred, especially for those not bringing their sacrificial animal personally.
