may do so, and whoever wishes to enter ihrām for ʿumrah may do so.’” He thus explicitly told them that all three forms were permissible, clearly demonstrating the permissibility of performing ʿumrah during the months of Hajj.

Moreover, the pilgrimage of those who performed tamattuʿ with him itself demonstrated its permissibility. He therefore could not have ordered everyone who performed Hajj with him to leave ihrām and make their pilgrimage tamattuʿ merely to demonstrate that it was permissible. Nor would he have moved them from a superior form to an inferior one. It is therefore clear that he moved them only to what was preferable. The following report is also established: “The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was asked, ‘Is this ʿumrah of ours for this year only, or for all time?’ He replied, ‘Rather, for all time. ʿUmrah has become part of Hajj until the Day of Resurrection.’”

Furthermore, since the unbelievers neither performed tamattuʿ nor performed ʿumrah during the months of Hajj, and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, intended to differ from them, this would be among the Sunnah practices of Hajj. This is just as he did when standing at ʿArafah and Muzdalifah: the polytheists would hasten their departure from ʿArafah before sunset and delay their departure from Jamʿ until sunrise. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, differed from them, saying:

“Our practice differs from that of the polytheists.”

He therefore delayed his departure from ʿArafah until the sun had set and hastened his departure from Jamʿ before sunrise. This is the Sunnah for Muslims, by their unanimous agreement. The same applies to what he did regarding tamattuʿ and changing one’s pilgrimage to it: if he intended thereby to differ from the polytheists, then this is the Sunnah; and if he did so because it is preferable, it is likewise a Sunnah. On either understanding, changing one’s pilgrimage to tamattuʿ is preferable, in accordance with what the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded his Companions to do. And Allah, glorified is He, knows best.