15/39. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1264a — Reason for Ramal
Raml (walking rapidly) is recommended in the Tawaf of Umrah, and in the first Tawaf of Hajj
Reason for Ramal in Tawaf Hadith
Sahih Muslim : 1264a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1264a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو كَامِلٍ، فُضَيْلُ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْجُرَيْرِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي الطُّفَيْلِ، قَالَ قُلْتُ لاِبْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَرَأَيْتَ هَذَا الرَّمَلَ بِالْبَيْتِ ثَلاَثَةَ أَطْوَافٍ وَمَشْىَ أَرْبَعَةِ أَطْوَافٍ أَسُنَّةٌ هُوَ فَإِنَّ قَوْمَكَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُ سُنَّةٌ . قَالَ فَقَالَ صَدَقُوا وَكَذَبُوا . قَالَ قُلْتُ مَا قَوْلُكَ صَدَقُوا وَكَذَبُوا قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَدِمَ مَكَّةَ فَقَالَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ إِنَّ مُحَمَّدًا وَأَصْحَابَهُ لاَ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ أَنْ يَطُوفُوا بِالْبَيْتِ مِنَ الْهُزَالِ وَكَانُوا يَحْسُدُونَهُ . قَالَ فَأَمَرَهُمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَرْمُلُوا ثَلاَثًا وَيَمْشُوا أَرْبَعًا . قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الطَّوَافِ بَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ رَاكِبًا أَسُنَّةٌ هُوَ فَإِنَّ قَوْمَكَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُ سُنَّةٌ . قَالَ صَدَقُوا وَكَذَبُوا . قَالَ قُلْتُ وَمَا قَوْلُكَ صَدَقُوا وَكَذَبُوا قَالَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَثُرَ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ يَقُولُونَ هَذَا مُحَمَّدٌ هَذَا مُحَمَّدٌ . حَتَّى خَرَجَ الْعَوَاتِقُ مِنَ الْبُيُوتِ . قَالَ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ يُضْرَبُ النَّاسُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَلَمَّا كَثُرَ عَلَيْهِ رَكِبَ وَالْمَشْىُ وَالسَّعْىُ أَفْضَلُ .
Abu Tufail Narrated from:
I said to Ibn `Abbas (Allah be pleased with them): Do you think that walking swiftly round the House in three circuits, and just walking in four circuits is the Sunnah (of the Holy Prophet), for your people say that it is Sunnah? Thereupon he (Ibn `Abbas) said: They have told the truth and the lie (too). I said: What do your words "They have told the truth and the lie (too)" imply?Thereupon he said: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to Mecca and the polytheists said that Muhammad and his Companions had emaciated and would, therefore, be unable to circumambulate the House; and they felt jealous of him (the Holy Prophet). (It was due to this) that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) commanded them to walk swiftly in three (circuits) and walk (normally) in four.I said to him: Inform me if it is Sunnah to observe Tawaf between al-Safa and al-Marwa while riding, for your people look upon it as Sunnah. He (Ibn `Abbas) said: They have told the truth and the lie too. I said: What do your words "They have told the truth and the lie too" imply?He said: When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had come to Mecca, there was such a large gathering of people around him that even the virgins had come out of their houses (to catch a glimpse of his face). And they were saying: He is Muhammad; He is Muhammad. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (was so gentle and kind) that the people were not beaten back (to make way) in front of him. When there was a throng (of people) around him, he rode (the she-camel). However, walking and trotting are better.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1264aIn-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 261USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 7, Hadith 2900
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1264a
This Hadith gives an important explanation from Ibn Abbas about ramal in Tawaf and riding between Safa and Marwa. Abu Tufail asked whether swift walking in three circuits and normal walking in four was Sunnah. Ibn Abbas replied with the phrase that people had told the truth and also the lie. He then explained that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم commanded the Companions to walk swiftly because the polytheists claimed they were too weak to perform Tawaf. The Hadith also mentions that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم rode when people crowded around him, while Ibn Abbas said walking and trotting are better. The text teaches that the action had a reason, and that crowding affected how the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم moved.
What we learn from this hadith
- Ramal was linked here to showing strength when others claimed the Companions were weak.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم commanded three swift circuits and four normal walking circuits.
- Riding between Safa and Marwa is mentioned because people crowded around him.
- Ibn Abbas stated that walking and trotting are better in this report.
