Tamattu': A pilgrim wears Ihram for Umrah only during the months of Hajj, which means when he reaches Makkah, he makes Tawaf and Sa'ii for Umrah. He then shaves or clips his hair. On the day of Tarwiyah, which is the 8th of Zul-Hijja, the pilgrim puts on his Ihram for Hajj and carries out all of its rituals.

Ifraad: A pilgrim wears Ihram for Hajj only. When he reaches Makkah, he performs Tawaf for his arrival and Sa'ii for Hajj. He does not shave or clip his hair as he does not disengage from Ihram. Instead, he remains in the state of Ihram till after he stones Jamrat Al-Aqaba on the Eid day (10th of Zul-Hijjah). It is permissible for him to postpone his Sa'ii for Hajj until after his Tawaf for Hajj.

Qiran: A pilgrim wears Ihram for both Umrah and Hajj or he wears Ihram first for Umrah, then makes intentions for Hajj before his Tawaf for Hajj. The obligations on one performing Ifraad are the same as those on the one performing Qiran, except that the latter must slaughter whereas the former is not obligated to do so.

Scholars have different opinions about the best form of Hajj, however, the apparent best form is Tamattu'. It is the form that the Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged his followers to perform. Even if a pilgrim makes intentions to perform Qiran or Ifrad, he is allowed to change his intentions to Tammatu'; he can do this even after he has performed Tawaf and Sa'ii. When the Prophet ( peace be upon him) performed Tawaf and Sa'ii during the year of the Farewell Hajj with his companions, he ordered all those who had not brought sacrificial animal to change their intentions for Hajj to intentions for Umrah, cut their hair, and disengage from Ihram till Hajj (day of Tarwiya). He (peace be upon him) said: "If I had not brought the sacrificial animal, I'd have done what I've ordered you to do."