—this is qirān, which is included under the term tamattuʿ in the Quran, the Sunnah, and the words of the Companions. Alternatively, he may enter ihrām for Hajj alone; this is ifrād.

Section: Which of These Is Preferable

The correct conclusion is that the preferable form varies according to the pilgrim’s circumstances. If he makes one journey for ʿumrah and another for Hajj, or travels to Mecca before the months of Hajj, performs ʿumrah, and remains there until he performs Hajj, then ifrād is preferable for him, by agreement of the four imams. Entering ihrām for Hajj before its months is not a Sunnah practice; rather, it is disliked. If someone does so, there is disagreement over whether he thereby enters ihrām for ʿumrah or for Hajj.

If, however, he does what most people do—combining ʿumrah and Hajj in a single journey and arriving in Mecca during the months of Hajj, namely Shawwāl, Dhū al-Qaʿda, and the first ten days of Dhū al-Hijja—then qirān is preferable for him if he brings sacrificial animals with him. If he does not bring sacrificial animals, it is preferable for him to leave ihrām by performing ʿumrah. For this is established through widely transmitted reports whose authenticity is undisputed among scholars