World’s largest religious gathering can be seen during the time of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Makkah, Saudia Arabia. Nearly four million pilgrims arrive every year in the region for the holy rituals of obligatory pilgrimage through umrah package UK 2022. Though the rites of Hajj officially commence on the 8th of Dhu-al-Hijjah, many pilgrims arrive early and offer the umrah rituals as well. the hajj rituals continue for five days and thus marking the completion of the holy pilgrimage on the 12th of Dhu-al-Hijjah. During this time the pilgrims of Hajj have to perform various necessary rites and supplications at different places.

Since traveling for Hajj requires a person to use its financial as well as physical resources, Allah Almighty has only made it obligatory for those who can easily afford for it.

There are three different types of Hajj namely;

1. Hajj-al-Ifrad.
2. Hajj-al-Tamattu.
3. Hajj-al-Qiran.

The difference in the types of Hajj is on the basis in which the pilgrimage to Makkah can be observed by a pilgrim;

• The regulations governing its rituals.
• Where the pilgrim lives?
• Whether a pilgrim intends to make umrah as well with Hajj pilgrimage.
• Pilgrim wants to offer an animal sacrifice or not.

Pilgrims observing Hajj-al-Ifrad wear Ihram clothes with the intention of performing Hajj only.

When such pilgrims arrive in the holy city of Makkah, they first observe the tawaf of the arrival as well as Sayee for Hajj. Pilgrims undertaking Hajj-al-Ifrad don't opt for shaving/clipping their hair as they don't disengage from the ihram. Rather, they remain in the state of Ihram till the stoning ritual of Jamarat-al-Aqabah on Eid day. It also remains permissible for pilgrims performing Hajj-al-Ifrad to postpone their Sayee for Hajj until after Tawaf for Hajj. Yet, a lot of people also prefer performing it earlier for personal convenience.

Pilgrims observing Hajj-al-Tamattu assume Ihram with the intentions of umrah only during the months of Hajj. In other words, upon reaching Makkah city, such pilgrims observe Tawaf and Sayee for Umrah. Afterward, either shaving or clipping their hair as well. However, on the day of ‘Tarwiyah’ (8th of Dhu-al-Hijjah) they put on their Ihram again, but this time with the intentions of performing Hajj only and carrying out all of its requirements.

Pilgrims performing Hajj-al-Qiran, wear ihram with the intention for both umrah as well as hajj pilgrimages. Alternatively, they can also wear the ihram first for umrah and then intend for hajj pilgrimage before the tawaf for hajj.

The obligations which are imposed on the pilgrims performing Hajj-al-Qiran are similar to the ones imposed on pilgrims performing Hajj-al-Ifrad. The only difference is that it’s compulsory for pilgrims performing Hajj-al-Qiran to sacrifice an animal (Hady) while those performing Hajj-al-Ifrad are not obligated to do so.

All in all, it was narrated by our Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW) that the best of the three forms of Hajj is ‘Hajj-ul-Tamattu’.

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