The best way in which a Muslim can perform the rites of Hajj and ‘Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) is to do them in accordance with what is reported from the Messenger of Allah in order to attain thereby the love and forgiveness of Allah The Almighty (what means): {Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins….} [Quran 3:31]

The most perfect manner in this respect is to perform Hajj At-Tamattu’ for the pilgrim who has not brought the sacrificial animal with him, for it is with this that the Prophet commanded his Companions and placed stress on it, saying: “Had I known earlier what I have come to know later, I would not have driven the sacrificial animal with me, and would rather have dissolved from the state of Ihraam along with you.” [Muslim]

Tamattu’ is when a pilgrim performs ‘Umrah perfectly during the months of Hajj and then comes out from it in order to assume Ihraam once again for Hajj in the same year.

‘Umrah

* When you arrive at the Meeqaat (the place of assuming Ihraam for ‘Umrah or Hajj), and intend to assume Ihraam for ‘Umrah, you should make Ghusl (ritual bath) as you make Ghusl from Janaabah (sexual impurity) if it is possible for you, and put on the clothes of Ihraam, i.e., an Izaar (lower garment) and a Ridaa’ (upper garment) – and the woman may wear whatever she likes of clothes, without displaying her adornment -- and then say, “Labbayka ‘Umrah; Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk, Labbayka Laa Shareeka laka Labbayk, Innal-Hamda wan-ni‘mata laka wal-mulk, Laa Shareeka lak" (I am responding to Your Call for ‘Umrah. I am responding to Your Call O Allah, I am responding to Your Call! I am responding to Your Call, You have no partner with You, I am responding to Your Call. All perfect praise and bounty be to You, and dominion is Yours. You Have no partner with You).

* When you arrive at Makkah, perform a seven-round Tawaaf (circumambulation) of ‘Umrah around the House, making the corner of the Black Stone your starting and ending point in each round. Then, offer a two-Rak‘ah (unit) prayer behind the standing place of Ibraaheem (Abraham) either close to it if possible, or far from it (in which case there is no harm).

* Once you have finished from the two Rak‘ah prayer, come out to As-Safa (mountain), and walk between it and Al-Marwah in a seven-round Sa‘y (going between Safa and Marwah), making Safa your starting point and Marwah your ending point.

* Once you have finished from Sa‘y, cut short the hair of your head.

In this way, your ‘Umrah has been completed. Then, take off the clothes of Ihraam and put on your normal clothes.

Hajj

* When it is the forenoon of the eighth of Thul-Hijjah, assume Ihraam (for Hajj) from the very place you are staying at, make Ghusl if it is possible for you, put on the clothes of Ihraam and say:

“Labbayka Hajj; Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk, Labbayka Laa Shareeka laka Labbayk, Innal-Hamda wan-ni‘mata laka wal-mulk, Laa Shareeka laka" (I am responding to Your call for Hajj. I am responding to Your call O Allah, I am responding to Your call! I am responding to Your call, You have no partner with You, I am responding to Your call. All perfect praise and bounty is for You, and dominion is Yours. You have no partner with You).

* Then, go to Mina and pray there the Thuhr (afternoon), ‘Asr (post-noon), Maghrib (sunset), ‘Ishaa’ (night) and Fajr (dawn) prayers, shortening but not combining prayers together.

* When the sun rises on the ninth of Thul-Hijjah, go to ‘Arafah and combine in advance there both Thuhr and ‘Asr prayers, two Rak‘ahs each, and stay there until sunset, and continue to do Thikr and Du‘aa’ while facing the Qiblah.

* When the sun sets, leave ‘Arafah for Muzdalifah and offer Maghrib, ‘Ishaa’ and Fajr prayers there, and stay there devoting yourself to Du‘aa’ and Thikr until a short while before sunrise.

If you are too weak to crowd with the people at the throwing of pebbles, there is no harm if you leave for Mina towards the end of the night, in order to throw the Jamrah before the people crowd.

* When it is a short while before sunrise, leave Muzdalifah for Mina, and once you have arrived there, do the following:

a) Throw Jamrat Al-‘Aqabah (the largest pillar), the closest to Makkah, with seven pebbles one after the other, and say ”Allahu Akbar” with each pebble thrown.

b) Slaughter the sacrificial animal and eat thereof and distribute among the poor and needy. The sacrificial animal is due on the one who is performing Hajj At-Tamattu’ and Hajj Al-Qiraan as well.

c) Get your head shaved, or your hair cut short, although shaving is better; and the woman shortens her hair the length of a fingertip.

You should do those previous three in the same order if it is possible for you, beginning with throwing, then slaughtering and then shaving. But if you change this order, there is no harm.

After throwing and shaving your head or cutting short your hair, you have then dissolved the state of Ihraam, and that is the first dissolution, by putting off the clothes of Ihraam and wearing your normal clothes, thereby anything forbidden by Ihraam becomes lawful for you save (sexual relation with) women.

* Then, descend to Makkah and perform Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah, (the Tawaaf of Hajj), and make Sa‘y between Safa and Marwah (The ‘Sa y of Hajj).

By this you have perfectly dissolved the Ihraam, and this is the second dissolution according to which all things forbidden by Ihraam become lawful for you, including (sexual relations with) women.

* After finishing Tawaaf and Sa‘y, go to Mina and spend there the eleventh and twelfth nights.

* Throw the three Jamrahs on the eleventh and twelfth days after the sun declines from the middle of the sky (Thuhr prayer time), beginning with the first, which is the farthest from Makkah, then the middle, and then Jamrat Al-‘Aqabah, each with seven pebbles one after the other, and say ‘Allahu Akbar’ with each pebble thrown. After throwing the first and middle Jamrahs, stand and supplicate Allah The Almighty while facing the Qiblah. To throw before the time of Thuhr on those two days is not sufficient to meet the obligation.

* Once you have completed throwing on the twelfth day, if you like to hasten, set out of Mina before sunset; and if you like to delay -- and that is better -- then, spend the thirteenth night in Mina, and throw the three Jamrahs on it after the sun declines, in the same way as you have done on the twelfth day.

* When you wish to return to your country, then, at the time of your departure, perform the Farewell Tawaaf, seven rounds around the Ka‘bah. But the Farewell Tawaaf is not due on the menstruating woman and the woman suffering from post-partum bleeding.

How Should a Pilgrim Perform the Rites of Hajj? - II