In this article, I will write about the three types of Hajj; Qiran, Ifrad and Tamattu’. Also, you will know which type of hajj that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) performed. In fact, the pilgrim can choose the type suitable to him. Still, the best one is that of tamattu’. Keep reading for more.
Here we will learn the following:
What are the types of Hajj?
There are three types of Hajj:
- Hajj Tamattu’ 2. Hajj Ifrad 3. Hajj Qiran
These three types of Hajj are the ones performed by the pilgrim for and during different circumstances.
1. What is Hajj Tamattu’?
Hajj tamattu’ means that the pilgrim wears Ihram for Umrah only during the months of Hajj( Shawwal, Dhu-al-Qi’dah and Dhu-al-Hijjah). When he reaches the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, he makes Tawaf and Sa’i for Umrah. Then he shaves or clips his hair.
The pligrim lives his normal life till the Day of Tarwiyah on the eighth of Dhu-al-Hijjah. He puts on his Ihram for Hajj only and carries out all of the requirements.
2. What is Hajj Ifrad?
Hajj ifrad means that the pilgrim wears the Ihram for Hajj only. When he reaches the Sacred Mosque in Mecca, he performs Tawaf for his arrival and Sa’i for Hajj. He does not shave or clip his hair as he does not disengage from Ihram. Instead, he remains in Ihram till after he stones Jamrah al-Aqabah on the Eid Day. It is permissible for him to postpone his Sa’i until after his Tawaf for Hajj.
3. What is Hajj Qiran?
Hajj qiran means that the pilgrim wears Ihram for both Umrah and Hajj, or he can make intentions for Hajj before his Tawaf for Hajj.
What is the best type of hajj?
According to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), Hajj Tamattu’ is the easiest for the pilgrims. He encouraged his followers in Hajj to perform it. Even if the pilgrim makes intentions to perform Hajj Qiran or Ifrad, he is allowed to change to Tamattu’; he can do this even after his Tawaf and Sa’i. Then he cuts or clips his hair till the Day of Tarwiyah ( the 8th of Dhu-al-Hijjah).
Still, Messenger Muhammad didn’t do it because he had brought his hadi (sacrificial animal) with him. Anyone who did that could not change his intention from doing Hajj to doing Umrah alone.
What type of hajj did the Prophet (saw) do?
Muslim scholars have different opinions regarding the hajj type done by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Yet, the accurate opinion, adopted by Imam Ahmad ibn Habal, Ibn Taymiyah and many others, is that the Prophet (PBUH) did hajj qiran. Anas ibn Malik, the Prophet’s companion, described the hajj of the Prophet (PBUH) saying:
سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ “ لَبَّيْكَ عُمْرَةً وَحَجًّا ” .
[Bukhari & Muslim]
I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) pronouncing Talbiya both for ‘Umra and Hajj.
For the other narrations that may imply that Prohet’s hajj was ifrad, if they are put in the true context, then the explanation will lead to the same result.
To illustrate, the authentic narration of the Prophet’s wife Ayishah (RAA) leads some scholars to say that the Prophet’s hajj was ifrad. This is the narration:
خَرَجْنَا مَعَ اَلنَّبِيِّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -عَامَ حَجَّةِ اَلْوَدَاعِ, فَمِنَّا مَنْ أَهَلَّ بِعُمْرَةٍ, وَمِنَّا مَنْ أَهَلَّ بِحَجٍّ وَعُمْرَةٍ, وَمِنَّا مَنْ أَهَلَّ بِحَجٍّ, وَأَهَلَّ رَسُولُ اَللَّهِ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -بِالْحَجِّ
A’isha (RAA) narrated, ‘We left Madinah with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to perform the Farewell Hajj. Some of us declared Ihram to perform ‘Umrah, while others declared their intentions to perform both Hajj and ‘Umrah. Yet others declared their lhram to perform Hajj only. The Prophet (ﷺ) declared Ihram for Hajj.
The illustration for this narration is that the Prophet’s hajj in actions looks like hajj ifrad; however, in its true context, it’s hajj qiran. Both Hajj Ifrad and Qiran are the same except that in Qiran the pilgrim slaughters a sacrifice but in Ifrad the pilgrim does not do so.
What is the name of the Hajj done by Prophet Muhammad?
It’s called the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hijjat ul Wada’). This refers to the one pilgrimage that the Messenger of Allah(PBUH) performed in the 10th year of Hijra.
If you want to know more about the Farewell Pilgrimage of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), you can refer to the Prophetic Hadith, reported by Jabir bin Abdullah ( May Allah be pleased with him) in Sahih Muslim.
Conclusion
To conclude, the different types of hajj illustrate the mercy of Islam while asking the followers to practice its rituals and teachings. Want to know more about Islam and how to be a Muslim? Read this article.
