The Manner of Performing Hajj and ʿUmrah

It is recommended for those in Mecca who are not in a state of consecration to enter ihram for Hajj on the Day of Tarwiyah, before noon, …

His statement, “The manner of performing Hajj and ʿUmrah”: this is the main subject of the rites of pilgrimage.

“The manner of performing Hajj and ʿUmrah” means the way in which Hajj and ʿUmrah should be performed. You should know that the validity of an act of worship rests upon two conditions: first, sincerity; and second, following the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Such conformity cannot be achieved without knowing the manner authentically established from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

His statement, “It is recommended for those in Mecca who are not in a state of consecration to enter ihram for Hajj on the Day of Tarwiyah”: one who is not in a state of consecration is the pilgrim performing tamattuʿ, since he has exited his ihram; it also includes one of the residents of Mecca, since he remains in Mecca outside the state of ihram. Thus, it is recommended for them to enter ihram for Hajj on the Day of Tarwiyah—not before it or after it. The Day of Tarwiyah is the eighth day of Dhu al-Hijjah.

Some scholars made an exception for the pilgrim performing tamattuʿ if he cannot find a sacrificial animal. They said that he should enter ihram on the seventh day, on the basis that he would fast the three days beginning on the seventh, so that all three days of fasting would be during Hajj. The implication of this reasoning is that he should enter ihram before dawn on the seventh day. However, this is a weak view.

The correct view is that he should not enter ihram before the eighth day. Their stated reasoning is countered by the saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him: “ʿUmrah has entered into