Pilgrimage has 3 different methods; the tamattu', the qiran and the ifrad. Before, the pilgrim should start his consecration, at the point of miqat and declares his intention according to the method he chose.

How to conduct the pilgrimage

The pilgrimage starts on 8 Dhul-Hijjah and ends at sunset on 13 Dhul-Hijjah. Before this, the pilgrim does the following:

1-A pilgrim choosing the tamattu' method starts his ihram, i.e. consecration, at the point of miqat and declares: labbayka Allahumma 'umrah, (which means: I am responding to you, my Lord, intending to perform the 'umrah). On reaching Makkah, he performs the tawaf and the sa'i (which is the walking between al-Safa and al-Marwah). He then shaves his head, which is preferable if he comes a month or so before Arafat, or cuts short his hair. He then releases himself from Ihram and wears his ordinary clothes. He then stays in Makkah or travels to nearby cities providing he doesn’t return to his hometown.

2-A pilgrim choosing the qiran method starts his ihram at the point of miqat and declares: labbayka Allahumma hajjan wa 'umrah, (which means: I am responding to you, my Lord, intending to perform the pilgrimage and the 'umrah). On reaching Makkah, he performs the tawaf and the sa'i but he neither shaves his head nor releases himself from Ihram. He remains in ihram until he has preformed the stoning at the Grand Jamrah on 10 Dhul-Hijjah.

3-A pilgrim choosing the ifrad method starts his ihram at the point of miqat and declares: labbayka Allahumma hajjan, (which means: I am responding to you, my Lord, intending to perform the pilgrimage). On reaching Makkah, he performs the tawaf and the sa'i but he neither shaves his head nor releases himself from consecration. He remains in ihram until he has preformed the stoning at the Grand Jamrah on 10 Dhul-Hijjah.

The tawaf of arrival is a Sunnah for those doing this great duty in either the ifrad or qiran methods. Following this tawaf with sa'i is a recommended Sunnah. One may also delay the sa'i until he has performed the tawaf of ifadah, i.e. after attending at Arafat.[1]