Sharh · explanationclick to expand
Hajj is of great significance, and its rituals were taken in detail from the Prophet's Hajj. Hence, the Tābi‘īs (may Allah have mercy upon them) were keen to verify all that was reported and attributed to him (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) from his noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). In this Hadīth, the Tābi‘i Wabarah ibn ‘Abdur-Rahmān al-Kūfi relates that a man asked ‘Abdullūh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): Is it valid for me to perform Tawāf around the House after assuming Ihrām and before standing at ‘Arafah and performing the other rituals? His words "while I have assumed Ihrām for Hajj" mean that he assumed Ihrām for Hajj of Ifrād and was not performing Hajj of Tamattu‘ or Qirān. Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked him: What prevents you from starting with Tawāf?! This indicates that Ibn ‘Umar approved the performance of Tawāf first. In response, the questioner said: "I saw the son of so-and-so", meaning ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him), "expressing disapproval of it." In a version by Muslim: "Ibn ‘Abbās says: Do not perform Tawāf around the House until you have come to the standing." He (may Allah be pleased with him) used to forbid starting with Tawāf before coming to ‘Arafah. "and you are dearer to us than him"; he meant that he gave precedence to the view of Ibn ‘Umar over the view of Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with them), alleging that Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) was allured by worldly life, for he was appointed as a governor of Basrah by his cousin ‘Ali ibn Abi Tālib (may Allah be pleased with him), and authority brings possible peril and temptation. As for Ibn ‘Umar, he did not assume any post of authority. As for the statement by Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): "And who amongst us has not been allured by worldly life?" It stems from his asceticism, modesty, and fairness, and it came as a response to this man's criticism of Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) and demonstrated the merit of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him). Then, Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) informed that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) assumed Ihrām for Hajj, performed Tawāf al-Qudūm around the House for seven rounds, and made Sa‘i between Safa and Marwah. This means that he started Tawāf and Sa‘i before going out to Mina and ‘Arafah. It is said: If a Muhrim performs Hajj of Ifrād, this Tawāf counts as Tawāf al-Qudūm, and if he performs ‘Umrah only or Hajj of Tamattu‘ or Qirān, this Tawāf counts as the Tawāf for ‘Umrah, whether he intends it as such or not; and a performer of Hajj of Qirān is required to perform another Tawāf for Al-Qudūm. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is famously reported to have assumed Ihrām for Hajj of Qirān, performing Hajj and ‘Umrah together. So, his Tawāf was for the ‘Umrah, and then ‘Umrah was incorporated into the rituals of Hajj. Then, Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) outlined a rule for this man to follow in his pursuit of knowledge, namely that the Sunnah of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) is more worthy of being followed than the Sunnah of so-and-so. His words "if you are truthful" mean: If you are sincere in following the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), do not deviate from his practice. The Hadīth shows the Companions' caution not to backbite or defame one another. It indicates that it is unacceptable to praise oneself while despising others..