What is the ruling on performing Hajj alone (ifrad) in Islam?

The questioner : Shaykh, may Allah reward you. Regarding performing Hajj alone (ifrad), what is its ruling in Islam, I mean?

The Shaykh : Performing Hajj alone (ifrad) has no place in Islam except in a case of dire necessity. As for a person who has the time, it is not permissible for him to intend to perform Hajj alone (ifrad). Performing Hajj alone (ifrad) occurs in a very rare form, such as what happened in the past during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was a pilgrim with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) during the Farewell Pilgrimage, and she was combining 'Umrah with Hajj (tamattu'). So she entered the state of ihram for 'Umrah, but when the Prophet (peace be upon him) descended in a place near Mecca known as Sarif, the Messenger (peace be upon him) entered her tent and found her crying. He said: . She said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah. He said: . So she was compelled to convert her 'Umrah into Hajj alone (ifrad); therefore, she did not perform the tawaf, nor did she pray, but she did as her Prophet and husband (may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him) told her, performing all the rituals of Hajj until she reached 'Arafah, where she became pure at 'Arafah. So she performed the remaining rituals until the Prophet (peace be upon him) performed the Farewell Tawaf and announced the departure and return to Medina. He entered her tent again and found her, again, crying. He said: . She said: Why should I not cry? The people are returning with Hajj and 'Umrah, while I am returning with Hajj without 'Umrah? She meant by "the people" her female relatives; yes, because they all had entered ihram for combining 'Umrah with Hajj (tamattu'). So when she was unable to complete the 'Umrah due to her excuse, and her 'Umrah was converted to Hajj alone (ifrad), she was distressed and grieved at this situation, while others were going with Hajj and 'Umrah. This is a matter of envy (ghibah) and not of malice (hasad); yes. So he (peace be upon him) said: . Then he said to her brother 'Abd al-Rahman: . So she returned and performed the 'Umrah. So this was her Hajj alone (ifrad). This is a case based on the rule: "One who is forced to do something is not a sinner." This is permissible.
Similarly, for example, a person may go out before the season of Hajj (meaning a short time before 'Arafah), so he is unable to... come to Mecca and perform the Arrival Tawaf and exit the state of ihram such that he performs the 'Umrah, then continues to Mina, then to 'Arafah, so he goes directly to 'Arafah. This is also Hajj alone (ifrad), but this person is excused. As for a person who has time and intends Hajj alone (ifrad) from the miqat and has many days; this is what the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade, as came in the story of his (peace be upon him) Hajj, which is a wonderful and engaging story. Among what came in it is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went out from Medina to Dhul-Hulayfah, and from there he (peace be upon him) entered the state of ihram. So he set out walking on his mount, and before him were mountains of men. At some of the stations, he gave them a sermon and said: . And among them were those performing Hajj alone (ifrad), those combining (qiran), and those combining 'Umrah with Hajj (tamattu'). And among them were those who had brought the sacrificial animals from Medina and those who had not. So here he gave the choice to those who had not brought the sacrificial animals to convert their Hajj to 'Umrah. This is called in the language of the scholars, and especially in the language of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him), "dissolving the Hajj into 'Umrah." He said: , but from among those who had not brought the sacrificial animals. So some of them did it, and some of them remained with their previous intention. And so on until he descended in a place near Mecca, so he said to them: . There, previously he had said: . Here he said: . Then he (peace be upon him) entered and performed tawaf and sa'y, and his companions did the same. And he (peace be upon him), in the last lap of the sa'y, stood on al-Marwah as a preacher. So a man from his companions named Suraqah ibn Jush'um said to him: O Messenger of Allah, is this 'Umrah of ours...Another questioner : Oh, please.The Shaykh : Welcome -- = Is this 'Umrah of ours for this year or forever? He said: ... combining 'Umrah with Hajj (tamattu'), , so what is the excuse for one who does not combine 'Umrah with Hajj (tamattu')? Then, combining 'Umrah with Hajj (tamattu') is a facilitation for people. Exiting the state of ihram between 'Umrah and Hajj is much easier than for a person to remain in his state of ihram, perhaps for a month, perhaps less, perhaps more. And I know some people, when I was in Damascus, they would come from the lands of the Afghans and they were in the state of ihram, and they would live in Damascus, may Allah will it, for days while in their state of ihram. And so they would go to Mecca and Medina and remain in the state of ihram. Allah did not burden them with this! So our Lord says: . So I mean that a person making things difficult for himself, this is not from the Shari'ah at all.