Entering Mecca and the Circumambulation - Section 1

Nafi' said that it was Ibn ‘Umar’s habit not to come to Mecca without spending the night at Dhu Tuwa (A place near Mecca), after which he would bathe and pray, then enter Mecca in the daytime. When he left it he went by Way of Dhu Tuwa where he would stay overnight till the morning. He used to say that the Prophet (ﷺ) was accustomed to do that. Bukhari and Muslim.

عَنْ نَافِعٍ قَالَ: إِنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ كَانَ لَا يَقْدَمُ مَكَّةَ إِلَّا بَاتَ بِذِي طُوًى حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ وَيَغْتَسِلَ وَيُصَلِّيَ فَيَدْخُلَ مَكَّةَ نَهَارًا وَإِذَا نَفَرَ مِنْهَا مَرَّ بِذِي طُوًى وَبَاتَ بِهَا حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ وَيَذْكُرُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ

‘A’isha said that when the Prophet (ﷺ) came to Mecca he entered it at the upper end and went out at the lower. Bukhari and Muslim.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَمَّا جَاءَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ دَخَلَهَا مِنْ أَعْلَاهَا وخرجَ منْ أسفلِها

‘Urwa b. az-Zubair said:

The Prophet (ﷺ) has performed the <i>hajj</i>, and ‘A’isha told me that the first thing he did when he came to Mecca was to perform ablution, then go round the House, but an <i>‘umra</i> was not observed. Then Abu Bakr performed the <i>hajj</i> and the first thing he did was to go round the House, but an <i>‘umra</i> was not observed. Then ‘Umar and afterwards ‘Uthman did similarly. Bukhari and Muslim.

وَعَن عُروةَ بنِ الزُّبيرِ قَالَ: قَدْ حَجَّ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَخْبَرَتْنِي عَائِشَةُ أَنَّ أَوَّلَ شَيْءٍ بَدَأَ بِهِ حِينَ قَدِمَ مَكَّةَ أَنَّهُ تَوَضَّأَ ثُمَّ طَافَ بِالْبَيْتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ تَكُنْ عُمْرَةً ثُمَّ حجَّ أَبُو بكرٍ فكانَ أوَّلَ شيءٍ بدَأَ بِهِ الطوَّافَ بالبيتِ ثمَّ لَمْ تَكُنْ عُمْرَةً ثُمَّ عُمَرُ ثُمَّ عُثْمَانُ مثلُ ذَلِك

Ibn ‘Umar said that when God’s messenger observed the circumambulation at the <i>hajj</i> or the <i>‘umra</i> immediately on his arrival, he ran three circuits and walked four, then after making two prostrations he would go between as-Safa and al-Marwa. Bukhari and Muslim.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا طَافَ فِي الْحَجِّ أَوِ الْعمرَة مَا يَقْدَمُ سَعَى ثَلَاثَةَ أَطْوَافٍ وَمَشَى أَرْبَعَةً ثُمَّ سَجَدَ سَجْدَتَيْنِ ثُمَّ يَطُوفُ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا والمروة

He said that God’s messenger ran three circuits beginning at the stone and walked four, and he ran in the bottom of the channel when he went between as-Safa and al-Marwa. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: رَمَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ الْحَجَرِ ثَلَاثًا وَمَشَى أَرْبَعًا وَكَانَ يَسْعَى بِبَطْنِ الْمَسِيلِ إِذَا طَافَ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Jabir said that when God’s messenger came to Mecca he went to the stone and touched it, then moved to his right, running three circuits and walking four. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَمَّا قَدِمَ مَكَّةَ أَتَى الْحَجَرَ فَاسْتَلَمَهُ ثُمَّ مَشَى عَلَى يَمِينِهِ فَرَمَلَ ثَلَاثًا وَمَشى أَرْبعا. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Az-Zubair b. ‘Arabi said that a man asked Ibn ‘Umar about touching the stone, and he replied that he had seen God s messenger touching it and kissing it. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنِ الزُّبَيْرِ بْنِ عَرَبِيٍّ قَالَ: سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ ابنَ عمرَ عَنِ اسْتِلَامِ الْحَجَرِ فَقَالَ: رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْتَلِمُهُ وَيُقَبِّلُهُ. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Ibn ‘Umar said that he had not seen the Prophet (ﷺ) touching anything in the House but the two Yamani corners (The corner containing the Black Stone and the Yamani corner to the south-east which, as is usually held, should be touched but not kissed. They are both held to be on the foundations laid by Abraham). Bukhari and Muslim.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: لَمْ أَرَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْتَلِمُ من الْبَيْت إِلَّا الرُّكْنَيْنِ اليمانيين

Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Prophet (ﷺ) performed the circumambulation at the Farewell Pilgrimage on a camel and touched the corner with a crooked stick. Bukhari and Muslim.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: طَافَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ عَلَى بعير يسْتَلم الرُّكْن بمحجن

He said that God’s messenger went round the House on a camel, and as often as he came to the corner he pointed to it with something in his hand and said, “God is most great.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ طَافَ بِالْبَيْتِ عَلَى بَعِيرٍ كُلَّمَا أَتَى عَلَى الرُّكْنِ أَشَارَ إِلَيْهِ بِشَيْءٍ فِي يدِه وكبَّرَ. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Abut Tufail said he saw God’s messenger going round the House, touching the corner with a crooked stick which he had, and kissing the crooked stick. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي الطُّفَيْلِ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَطُوفُ بِالْبَيْتِ وَيَسْتَلِمُ الرُّكْنَ بِمِحْجَنٍ مَعَهُ ويقبِّلُ المحجن. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘A’isha said:

We went out with the Prophet (ﷺ) mentioning nothing but the <i>hajj</i>, and when we were at Sarif (A place near at-Tan'im) I began to menstruate. The Prophet (ﷺ) came in and finding me weeping, he said, “Perhaps you are menstruating.” When I replied that I was, he said, “That is something which God has decreed for the daughters of Adam; but do what the pilgrims do, with the exception of going round the House, till you are purified.” Bukhari and Muslim.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: خَرَجْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا نَذْكُرُ إِلَّا الْحَجَّ فَلَمَّا كُنَّا بِسَرِفَ طَمِثْتُ فَدَخَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَنَا أَبْكِي فَقَالَ: «لَعَلَّكِ نَفِسْتِ؟» قُلْتُ: نَعَمْ قَالَ: «فَإِنَّ ذَلِكِ شَيْءٌ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى بَنَاتِ آدَمَ فَافْعَلِي مَا يَفْعَلُ الْحَاجُّ غَيْرَ أَنْ لَا تَطُوفِي بِالْبَيْتِ حَتَّى تَطْهُرِي»

Abu Huraira said:

On the day of sacrifice at the pilgrimage before the Farewell Pilgrimage over which the Prophet (ﷺ) had appointed Abu Bakr, he sent me with a group whom he had ordered to announce among the people, “After this year no polytheist may perform the pilgrimage, and no naked person may go round the House.” Bukhari and Muslim.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: بَعَثَنِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ فِي الْحَجَّةِ الَّتِي أَمَّرَهُ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهَا قَبْلَ حَجَّةِ الْوَدَاعِ يَوْمَ النَّحْرِ فِي رَهْطٍ أَمَرَهُ أَنْ يُؤَذِّنَ فِي النَّاسِ: «أَلَا لَا يَحُجُّ بَعْدَ العامِ مشرِكٌ وَلَا يطوفَنَّ بِالْبَيْتِ عُرْيَان»

Al-Muhajir al-Makki said that Jabir was asked about the man who raises his hands on seeing the House and replied, “We have performed the pilgrimage along with the Prophet (ﷺ) and we did not do so.” Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

عَنِ الْمُهَاجِرِ الْمَكِّيِّ قَالَ: سُئِلَ جَابِرٌ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَرَى الْبَيْتَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ قَدْ حَجَجْنَا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَلَمْ نَكُنْ نَفْعَلُهُ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ

Abu Huraira said that God's messenger came and entered Mecca, and after he had gone forward to the stone and touched it, he went round the House. He then went to as-Safa and mounted it so that he could look at the House, then he raised his hands, began to make mention of God as much as he wished and make supplication. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: أَقْبَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَدَخَلَ مَكَّةَ فَأَقْبَلَ إِلَى الْحَجَرِ فَاسْتَلَمَهُ ثُمَّ طَافَ بِالْبَيْتِ ثُمَّ أَتَى الصَّفَا فَعَلَاهُ حَتَّى يَنْظُرَ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ فَرَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ فَجَعَلَ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ مَا شَاءَ وَيَدْعُو. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “The circumambulation of the House is like prayer, except that you speak while performing it; but he who speaks must speak only what is good." Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Darimi transmitted it, Tirmidhi mentioning a number who traced it no farther back than Ibn ‘Abbas.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «الطَّوَافُ حَوْلَ الْبَيْتِ مِثْلُ الصَّلَاةِ إِلَّا أَنَّكُمْ تَتَكَلَّمُونَ فِيهِ فَمَنْ تَكَلَّمَ فِيهِ فَلَا يَتَكَلَّمَنَّ إِلَّا بِخَيْرٍ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ وَذَكَرَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ جَمَاعَةً وَقَفُوهُ عَلَى ابْنِ عباسٍ

He reported God's messenger as saying, “The black stone descended from paradise whiter than milk, but the sins of the descendants of Adam made it black." Ahmad and Tirmidhi transmitted it, the latter saying that this is a <i>hasan sahih</i> tradition.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «نَزَلَ الْحَجَرُ الْأَسْوَدُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَهُوَ أَشَدُّ بَيَاضًا مِنَ اللَّبَنِ فَسَوَّدَتْهُ خَطَايَا بَنِي آدَمَ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَقَالَ: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيح

He reported God’s messenger as saying concerning the stone, “I swear by God that God will certainly raise it up on the day of resurrection with eyes with which it will see and a tongue with which it will speak, and it will give testimony about those who touched it in a proper manner." Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي الْحَجَرِ: «وَاللَّهِ لَيَبْعَثَنَّهُ اللَّهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لَهُ عَيْنَانِ يُبْصِرُ بِهِمَا وَلِسَانٌ يَنْطِقُ بِهِ يَشْهَدُ عَلَى مَنِ اسْتَلَمَهُ بِحَقٍّ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَابْن مَاجَه والدارمي

Ibn ‘Umar said that he heard God's messenger say, “The Corner and the Station are two of the sapphires of paradise whose light God has obliterated. If He had not done so, they would have illuminated everything between the East and West." Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ الرُّكْنَ وَالْمَقَامَ يَاقُوتَتَانِ مِنْ يَاقُوتِ الْجَنَّةِ طَمَسَ اللَّهُ نورَهما وَلَو لم يطمِسْ نورَهما لأضاءا مَا بينَ المشرقِ والمغربِ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

‘Ubaid b. ‘Umair said:

Ibn ‘Umar used to press towards the two corners in a manner I have not seen any of the companions of God’s messenger press. He said, “If I do so, it is because I heard God’s messenger say that stroking them is an atonement for sins; and I heard him say that if anyone goes round this House for a week and counts his circuits, it will be like setting free a slave; I heard him say that no one will place one foot on the ground and raise the other without God removing a sin from him on account of it and recording a blessing for him on account of it.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَن عُبيدِ بنِ عُمَيرٍ: أَنَّ ابْنَ عُمَرَ كَانَ يُزَاحِمُ عَلَى الرُّكْنَيْنِ زِحَامًا مَا رَأَيْتُ أَحَدًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُزَاحِمُ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ: إِنْ أَفْعَلْ فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ مَسْحَهُمَا كَفَّارَةٌ لِلْخَطَايَا» وَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ طَافَ بِهَذَا الْبَيْتِ أُسْبُوعًا فَأَحْصَاهُ كَانَ كَعِتْقِ رَقَبَةٍ» . وَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ: «لَا يَضَعُ قَدَمًا وَلَا يَرْفَعُ أُخْرَى إِلا حطَّ اللَّهُ عنهُ بهَا خَطِيئَة وكتبَ لهُ بهَا حَسَنَة» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

‘Abdallah b. as-Sa’ib said that he heard God’s messenger say between the two corners, “O God bring us a blessing in this world and a blessing in the next, and guard us from the punishment of hell." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَن عبد الله بن السَّائِب قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ مَا بَيْنَ الرُّكْنَيْنِ: (رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَاب النَّار) رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Safiya daughter of Shaiba said that the daughter of Abu Tujrat told her she had entered the house of the family of Abu Husain along with some women of Quraish and they had watched God’s messenger while he was running between as-Safa and al-Marwa. She saw his lower garment moving round as he ran because of the vigour with which he did it, and she heard him saying, “Run, for God has prescribed running for you." It is transmitted in <i>Sharh as-sunna</i>, and Ahmad transmitted it with some difference.

وَعَن صفيةَ بنتِ شيبةَ قَالَتْ: أَخْبَرَتْنِي بِنْتُ أَبِي تُجْرَاةَ قَالَتْ: دَخَلْتُ مَعَ نِسْوَةٍ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ دَارَ آلِ أَبِي حُسَيْنٍ نَنْظُرُ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ يَسْعَى بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ فَرَأَيْتُهُ يَسْعَى وَإِنَّ مِئْزَرَهُ لَيَدُورُ مِنْ شِدَّةِ السَّعْيِ وَسَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ: «اسْعَوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَتَبَ عَلَيْكُمُ السَّعْيَ» . رَوَاهُ فِي شَرْحِ السُّنَّةِ وَرَوَاهُ أَحْمد مَعَ اخْتِلَاف

Qudama b. ‘Abdallah b. 'Ammar said that he saw God’s messenger running between as-Safa and al-Marwa on a camel without striking it, or driving people away, or telling them to move aside. It is transmitted in <i>Sharh as-sunna</i>.

وَعَنْ قُدَامَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَسْعَى بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ عَلَى بَعِيرٍ لَا ضرب وَلَا طرد وَلَا إِلَيْك. رَوَاهُ فِي شرح السّنة

Ya'la b. Umayya said that God’s messenger went round the House wearing a green Yamani mantle under his right armpit with the end over his left shoulder. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ يَعْلَى بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ قَالَ: إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ طَافَ بِالْبَيْتِ مُضْطَجعا بِبُرْدٍ أَخْضَرَ. رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ

Ibn ‘Abbas said that God’s messenger and his companions performed an <i>‘umra</i> from al-Ji'rana (A place where there was water less than half way from Mecca to at-Ta’if) and ran three times round the House. They put their upper garments under their armpits and threw the ends over their left shoulders. Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم وأصحابَه اعتمروا من الجعْرانة فَرَمَلُوا بِالْبَيْتِ ثَلَاثًا وَجَعَلُوا أَرْدِيَتَهُمْ تَحْتَ آبَاطِهِمْ ثُمَّ قَذَفُوهَا عَلَى عَوَاتِقِهِمُ الْيُسْرَى. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد