alTamattu

Tamattu’ (al-Tamattu) is a mode of performing the Hajj pilgrimage in Islam. It means “to enjoy” or “to make pleasant” and is used to describe performing Umrah during the Hajj season, then exiting the state of ihram and later entering ihram again to perform the Hajj rites in the same year. It is one of the three traditional ways to perform Hajj, the others being Qiran (combining Umrah and Hajj without exiting ihram) and Ifrad (performing Hajj without Umrah in the same year).

In practice, a pilgrim intending Tamattu’ enters ihram for Umrah from the designated miqat and completes the Umrah (tawaf, sa’i, and then taqsir or shaving of the hair). After finishing Umrah, the pilgrim exits ihram and can remain in Mecca in a non-ihram state until the 8th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. On that day, they re-enter ihram with the intention of performing Hajj and proceed with the Hajj rites, including the important tawaf and sa’i associated with the Hajj period.

Tamattu’ is widely permitted and often preferred by many Sunni scholars and pilgrims because it allows both Umrah and Hajj in a single trip, while providing a break in the state of ihram between the two rites. It requires intention (niyyah) for both Umrah and Hajj as part of the same journey.

Differences with Qiran and Ifrad are primarily in how ihram is maintained or re-entered between Umrah and Hajj. Scholarly opinions on the best practice can vary by school of thought, but Tamattu’ remains a common and widely accepted method for performing Hajj.