The Three Types of Hajj and the Best of Them

Question:
May Allah reward you and bless you. This questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, the preferred type of pilgrimage is tamattu' (combining 'Umrah and Hajj with a break between them). If a person performs Hajj as an ifrad (performing Hajj alone), and the ninth day arrives, does he go directly to 'Arafah, or does he perform tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah) of the house?

Answer:
The preferred type is not tamattu'; rather, the best of the best is tamattu'. Otherwise, the other types of pilgrimage are valid and prescribed (mashru'), namely qiran (combining 'Umrah and Hajj in one ihram) and ifrad. A person may enter the state of ihram (the consecrated state of pilgrimage) for whichever one he wishes. However, if he enters ihram as a mutamatti' (one performing tamattu'), he exits the state of ihram from the 'Umrah. When the Day of Tawriyyah (the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah) arrives, he enters ihram for Hajj. This is the mutamatti', and he owes a fidyah (a ransom payment), specifically the fidyah of tamattu'. The same applies to the qarin (one performing qiran); he intends to perform both 'Umrah and Hajj and does not separate them by exiting the state of ihram until he performs the rites of Hajj on the Day of Sacrifice. He performs tawaf, sa'y (walking between al-Safa and al-Marwah), and shaves his head. At that point, he exits the state of ihram and pays a fidyah just as the mutamatti' does, because he combined the two pilgrimages. As for the mufrid (one performing ifrad), he enters ihram for Hajj from the miqat (the boundary at which ihram is entered) and remains in his state of ihram. When he arrives in Makkah, he performs the tawaf of arrival, which is a recommended practice (sunnah) and not obligatory. He remains in his state of ihram until he performs Hajj, standing at 'Arafah and performing the rites on the Day of Sacrifice, then he exits the state of ihram. He does not owe a fidyah. However, it is recommended for one who enters ihram as a qarin or mufrid and does not have a sacrificial animal that he brought from the non-sacred area to break his state of ihram. It is best for him to break his state of ihram by performing 'Umrah, then enter ihram for Hajj afterwards. This transforms him from being a qarin or mufrid into being a mutamatti', and this is better. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded his Companions who did not bring a sacrificial animal from the non-sacred area to do this. Yes.