11/51. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1886 — Ramal and Mercy
Ar-Raml (Walking Briskly During Tawaf)
Ramal and Mercy: A Hadith About Strength and Ease in Tawaf
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1886
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1886
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، أَنَّهُ حَدَّثَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَكَّةَ وَقَدْ وَهَنَتْهُمْ حُمَّى يَثْرِبَ فَقَالَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ إِنَّهُ يَقْدَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ قَوْمٌ قَدْ وَهَنَتْهُمُ الْحُمَّى وَلَقُوا مِنْهَا شَرًّا فَأَطْلَعَ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ نَبِيَّهُ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى مَا قَالُوهُ فَأَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يَرْمُلُوا الأَشْوَاطَ الثَّلاَثَةَ وَأَنْ يَمْشُوا بَيْنَ الرُّكْنَيْنِ فَلَمَّا رَأَوْهُمْ رَمَلُوا قَالُوا هَؤُلاَءِ الَّذِينَ ذَكَرْتُمْ أَنَّ الْحُمَّى قَدْ وَهَنَتْهُمْ هَؤُلاَءِ أَجْلَدُ مِنَّا . قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَلَمْ يَأْمُرْهُمْ أَنْ يَرْمُلُوا الأَشْوَاطَ إِلاَّ إِبْقَاءً عَلَيْهِمْ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Apostle of Allaah(ﷺ) came to Makkah while the fever of Yathrib (Medina) had weakened them. Thereupon the disbelievers said “The people whom the fever has weakened and who suffer misery at Medina are coming to you.” Allaah, the exalted, informed the Prophet (ﷺ) of what they had said. He, therefore, ordered them to perform ramal (walk proudly with swift pace) in first three circuits and walk ordinarily between the two corners (Yamani Corner and the Black Stone).When they saw them the believers walking proudly, they said” These are the people about whom you mentioned that the fever had weakened them, but they are more vigorous than us.” Ibn ‘Abbas said “He did not order them to walk proudly in all circuits (of the circumambulation) out of mercy upon them.”
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1886In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 166English translation : Book 10, Hadith 1881
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1886
This hadith about ramal and mercy explains why the Companions were told to walk proudly with a swift pace in the first three circuits. Ibn Abbas said the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم came to Makkah when the fever of Yathrib had weakened them. The disbelievers said these people had been weakened by fever. Allah informed His Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم of what they said, so he ordered the Companions to perform ramal in three circuits and walk normally between the two corners. When the disbelievers saw them, they said they were stronger than expected. Ibn Abbas also said the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not order ramal in all circuits out of mercy for them.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ramal was ordered in three circuits in response to what the disbelievers had said.
- The Companions walked normally between the two corners in this report.
- Ibn Abbas linked the limited number of circuits to mercy for the Companions.
