made a separate journey for ‘umrah and a separate journey for Hajj?”

He replied, “No—not until he returns home and then performs Hajj. Thus, one sets out from one’s home for ‘umrah and sets out from one’s home for Hajj. That is what it means.”

Abū ‘Abd Allāh was asked, “People report that you say tamattu‘ is better than the other forms of Hajj.”

He replied, “There is no doubt that it is better than Hajj alone.” He then said, “Which is better: to perform ‘umrah and Hajj, or to perform Hajj alone? It is better than performing Hajj alone.”

I said to him, “And it is better than qirān, because one performs each separately, which is better than combining them.”

He replied, “Yes, and better than qirān.” He then said something similar to what I had said.

Al-Athram said:

I heard Abū ‘Abd Allāh say, “Tamattu‘ is preferable to me. It was the later of the Messenger of Allah’s two instructions, for he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘Had I known beforehand what I know now, I would have done as you have done.’ He also told his Companions, ‘Leave ihrām.’ There are also the hadiths reported concerning it.”

He also said:

Abū ‘Abd Allāh was asked, “Do you favour tamattu‘?”

He replied, “It is preferable to me and better. That is because we hold that ‘umrah is obligatory. Allah Most High says:

‘And complete Hajj and ‘umrah for Allah.’”

He then said, “This is clear.”