What are the types of Hajj?

The second question—in a letter from the brother citizen, Adel Abdul Hamid Hassan, from the Arab Republic of Egypt and residing in Jordan—he says: I always hear about the types of Hajj during the months of Hajj. What are these types and how many are there? Please inform us, may Allah reward you.
Answer: The types of Hajj are three: The first is performing Hajj alone (Ifrad), by saying: “O Allah, here I am for Hajj,” or “Here I am for a Hajj.” This is called Ifrad al-Hajj. It is better to do this in the months of Hajj, which are Shawwal, Dhu al-Qi’dah, and Dhu al-Hijjah, meaning the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah. If he says: “O Allah, here I am for Hajj,” he becomes one who has performed Hajj alone. He remains in his state of Ihram until he stands at ‘Arafah on the ninth day, and until he spends the night at Muzdalifah on the night of the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah, and until he performs Tawaf around the Ancient House seven times and prays two rak’ahs behind the Maqam—Maqam Ibrahim—and performs Sa’y between al-Safa and al-Marwah seven times. These are the acts of Hajj. In addition to this, he must complete the acts of Hajj by stoning the pillars on the Day of ‘Id and the days of Tashriq, and by staying in Mina on its nights. All of this is part of the acts of Hajj, and he does not have to offer a sacrificial animal because he is performing Hajj alone.
The second type is ‘Umrah alone, which is performed throughout the year, in Ramadan, in Shawwal, and in other months. It is entering the state of Ihram for ‘Umrah, saying: “Here I am for ‘Umrah,” from the Miqat he passes through. If he comes from Madinah, the Miqat is the Miqat of Madinah. If he comes from Yemen, the Miqat is the Miqat of Yemen. If he comes from Egypt, Syria, or the West, the Miqat is the Miqat of Syria, Egypt, and the West, which is al-Juhfah, known today as Rabigh. If he comes from the east or from the direction of Ta’if, it is al-Qarn—Wadi al-Qarn. And from the direction of Iraq, it is Dhat ‘Irq. He calls out the Talbiyah for ‘Umrah from these Miqats he passes through. If he passes through one of these Miqats, he calls out the Talbiyah for ‘Umrah from that Miqat, saying: “O Allah, here I am for ‘Umrah,” or “Here I am for ‘Umrah,” or “I have made ‘Umrah obligatory upon myself.” ‘Umrah is the visit to the House—the Ancient House. He calls out the Talbiyah with the prescribed formula, just as in Hajj: “Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Indeed, praise and blessing are Yours, and dominion, You have no partner.” When he reaches the Ancient House, he performs Tawaf around it seven times and prays two rak’ahs behind the Maqam, then performs Sa’y between al-Safa and al-Marwah seven times, then shortens his hair or shaves it. Shortening means cutting the ends of the hair with scissors, going over it with the scissors. Shaving means taking it with a razor, or with the machine that removes it all. This is ‘Umrah, which is a visit to the Ancient House throughout the year.
The third type is combining them, combining Hajj and ‘Umrah together, by saying: “O Allah, here I am for ‘Umrah and Hajj,” or “Here I am for ‘Umrah and Hajj,” or “O Allah, I have made ‘Umrah and Hajj obligatory upon myself.” This is called Qiran, which is combining ‘Umrah and Hajj together.
There is another form of combining them, which is to call out the Talbiyah for ‘Umrah in the months of Hajj, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qi’dah, or Dhu al-Hijjah, and to complete it with Tawaf, Sa’y, and shortening the hair. Then he calls out the Talbiyah for Hajj in its time, on the eighth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, or before it, or after it. This is called Tamattu’ because he enjoyed the ‘Umrah before the Hajj. He performed its rites and then enjoyed what Allah has permitted him of good things and women, and so on. Then he called out the Talbiyah for Hajj after that. This is called a Mutamatti’. The one who performs Qiran is also called a Mutamatti’ because he combined Hajj and ‘Umrah. These are the three types of Hajj that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) explained, and the scholars explained them. All of them are permissible and all of them are prescribed. But the best for the one who comes to Makkah in the months of Hajj is to perform Tamattu’. This is the best if he comes in Shawwal, or in Dhu al-Qi’dah, or in the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah. The best for him is to call out the Talbiyah for ‘Umrah, then perform Tawaf, Sa’y, and shorten his hair, and exit the state of Ihram, then call out the Talbiyah for Hajj. This is the best. And success is from Allah. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.