Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salaamo alaikum ,

As I understand : It is not essential to perform a  sacrifice if a pilgrim does Ifraad hajj. 

Could you kindly clarify then :

Why does everybody not perform Ifraad hajj as it will be more economical with one ritual less ? Why do pilgrims even consider Tamattu and Qiran Haj when Ifrad has one duty less and is obviously mor economical ?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Hajj ifraad economical

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Hadrat Aishah (r.a.) reported: "We left (Madinah) with Allah's Messenger (saws) to perform the Farewell Hajj. Some of us declared ihram to perform 'Umrah (Tamattu), while others declared their intentions to perform both Hajj and 'Umrah (Qiran). Yet others declared their ihram to perform Hajj only (Ifraad).”

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

There is allowance in the Shariah for a pilgrim whose house is not in the vicinity of the Sacred Precint to perform any one of the three types of Hajj:

1. Hajj-e-Ifraad: ie. where a pilgrim performs only the Hajj without the Umrah pilgrimage.
2. Hajj-e-Qiran: ie. where the pilgrim performs both the Umrah and the Hajj pilgrimage in one state of ‘ehraam’.
3. Hajj-e-Tamattu: ie. where the pilgrim performs the Umrah first, then comes out of the state of ‘ehram’, and before the days of Hajj enters into the state of ‘ehram’ for a second time to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.

But if one’s house is in the vicinity of the Sacred Precinct, such a person is not permitted to perform the Hajj and Umrah together (tamattu/qiran)….they are under obligation only to perform the Hajj Ifraad.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 196:

196 And complete the Hajj or Umra in the service of Allah. But if ye are prevented (from completing it) send an offering for sacrifice such as ye may find and do not shave your heads until the offering reaches the place of sacrifice. And if any of you is ill or has an ailment in his scalp (necessitating shaving) (he should) in compensation either fast or feed the poor or offer sacrifice; and when ye are in peaceful conditions (again) if anyone wishes to continue the Umra on to the Hajj (Tamattu) he must make an offering such as he can afford. But if he cannot affard it, he should fast three days during the Hajj and seven days on his return making ten days in all. This (permission for Tamattu/Qiran) is for those whose household is not in (the vicinity of) the Sacred Mosque. And fear Allah and know that Allah is strict in punishment.

Your Question: …As I understand : It is not essential to perform a  sacrifice if a pilgrim does Ifraad hajj. 

Indeed it is not obligatory for one who makes intention to perform the ‘Hajj Ifraad’ to offer a sacrifice; but if one chooses to offer a sacrifice of his own free will, there is absolutely no harm.

Your Question: ….Could you kindly clarify then :

Why does everybody not perform Ifraad hajj as it will be more economical with one ritual less ? Why do pilgrims even consider Tamattu and Qiran Haj when Ifrad has one duty less and is obviously mor economical ?

When one intends to go for Hajj, one’s intention should be how best to fulfill this obligatory duty of Hajj unto their Lord, and not how cheapest, or most economical, or how easiest and quickest, or how may one offload this ‘supposed’ burden off their backs by doing the least amount of rituals!!! Do such people not know that Allah Subhanah is Absolutely Self-Sufficient and stands in need of absolutely no one in creation!!!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imran verses 96-97:

Undoubtedly the first House of Worship ever to be built for mankind is the one which is at Makkah. It was blessed, and made the center of guidance for all the peoples. In it are clear Signs; there is a spot where Ibraheem used to worship; and it is the Sanctuary, and whoever enters it becomes safe and secure. Allah has, therefore, a right on the people that the one, who can afford to reach the House, should perform Hajj there. And the one who disobeys (this commandment should know that) Allah is Self-Sufficient, and does not stand in need of anyone.

Those who reside in the vicinity of the Sacred House are commanded to perform only the Hajj Ifraad (Hajj alone); and come back as often as they can or is easy for them at other times for the smaller pilgrimage of Umrah…..so that the Sacred House of Allah is frequently visited around the year and never empty or scarce of worshippers.

But if one is coming from a far-off land, and perchance has only one chance in his life to visit the Sacred House…..such believers have the option of taking this opportunity and performing both the smaller pilgrimage of Umrah and the main Hajj pilgrimage in one trip.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan