Book 10: The Rites of Pilgrimage

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “God has prescribed the pilgrimage for you people." Al-Aqra' b. Habis then got up and asked whether it was to be performed annually, to which God’s messenger replied that if he were to tell them that it was, it would become obligatory, and if it did they would not keep it nor be able to do so, adding, “The pilgrimage should be performed once, and if anyone does it oftener he performs supererogatory act." Ahmad, Nasa'i and Darimi transmitted it.

‘All reported God’s messenger as saying, “If anyone possesses enough provision and a riding-beast to take him to God’s House and does not perform the pilgrimage, it does not matter whether he dies a Jew or Christian. That is because God who is blessed and exalted says, 'Pilgrimage to the House is a duty men owe to God, those who can afford the journey'. (Qur’an, 3:97). ” Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition whose isnad is criticised, Hilal b. ‘Abdallah is unknown, and al- Harith is declared to be weak in tradition.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “Islam does not allow for failure to perform the pilgrimage." Abu Dawud transmitted it. (The word used here is sarura. The meaning is strictly "one who does not perform the pilgrimage." It is explained as coming from sarr which indicates the act of confining, or withholding. Another meaning is abstinence from marriage, and the tradition is sometimes explained as meaning that Islam does not allow of celibacy; but while that is a possible interpretation it is not the appropriate one in this chapter).

He reported God’s messenger as saying, “He who intends to perform the pilgrimage should hasten to do so." Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it.

Ibn Mas'ud reported God’s messenger as saying, “Make the hajj and the ‘umra follow one another closely, for they remove poverty and sins as a blacksmith’s bellows remove impurities from iron, gold and silver; and a hajja which is accepted gets no less a reward than paradise." Tirmidhi and Nasa'i transmitted it, and Ahmad and Ibn Majah transmitted it from ‘Umar up to “from iron."

Ibn ‘Umar said that a man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked what makes it necessary for one to perform the pilgrimage. He replied, “Provisions and a riding-beast. ’ ’ Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

He said that a man asked God’s messenger to describe a pilgrim, and he replied, “Unkempt and unperfumed." Another got up and asked which part of the pilgrimage was most excellent, and he replied, “Raising the voice in the talbiya and shedding the blood of sacrificial victims." Another got up and asked the meaning of sabil (This refers to the words translated "those who can afford the journey" in Qur’an 3:97, quoted above in ’All’s tradition), and he replied, “Provisions and a riding-beast." It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna, and Ibn Majah transmitted it in his Sunan without mentioning the last section.

Abu Razln al-‘Uqaili told that he went to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said, “Messenger of God, my father is a very old man who is unable to perform the hajj and the ‘umra, or to ride." He replied, “Perform them both on behalf of your father." Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it, Tirmidhi saying this is a hasan sahih tradition.

Ibn ‘Abbas told that God's messenger heard a man say, “Labbaik on behalf of Shubruma." He asked who Shubruma was, and the man replied, “A brother of mine," or “a relative of mine." He asked whether he had performed the pilgrimage on his own behalf, and when he replied that he had not, he said, “Perform the pilgrimage on your own behalf, then perform it on behalf of Shubruma." Shafi'i, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

He said that God’s messenger appointed al-‘Aqiq as the place where the people of the east should put on the ihram. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

‘A’isha said that God's messenger appointed Dhat ‘Irq as the place where the people of al-‘Iraq should put on the ihram. Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

Umm Salama said she heard God's messenger say, “If anyone puts on the ihram for a hajja or an ‘umra from the Aqsa mosque to the sacred mosque, his former and latter sins will be forgiven him," or, “he will be guaranteed paradise." Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.