Choosing the Type of Pilgrimage for One Performing Hajj for the First Time

Question:
Among the questions that have come in, Honorable Shaykh, the questioner Abu 'Abdullah says: I am going to perform Hajj for the first time after reaching the age of forty, so which of the types of Hajj should I choose in the Shaykh's view?

Answer:
The best option is tamattu' (combining 'Umrah and Hajj with a break between them). This means entering the state of ihram for 'Umrah from the miqat (the boundary at which ihram is entered) that you pass on your way, coming from your country, by entering ihram for 'Umrah. Then, when you arrive in Makkah, you complete the 'Umrah by performing tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah) seven times. Then you perform sa'y (walking between al-Safa and al-Marwah) seven times. Your going from al-Safa to al-Marwah is one lap, and your return from al-Marwah to al-Safa is another lap, until you complete the seven laps of sa'y. Then you shave your head or shorten your hair, and thereby your 'Umrah is completed. After that, you enter the state of ihram for Hajj on the eighth day of Dhu al-Hijjah. You enter ihram for Hajj from the place where you are staying. You go to 'Arafah and perform the rites of Hajj. By doing so, you are a person performing tamattu' from 'Umrah to Hajj, and you are required to pay the fidyah (a ransom payment). You are required to pay the fidyah for tamattu' by slaughtering a sheep or by sharing in a hady (the sacrificial animal of the pilgrimage), which is either a camel or a cow. Each camel counts for seven people, and each cow counts for seven people. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you,