Book 10: The Rites of Pilgrimage

Abu Bakra said that the Prophet (ﷺ) gave them the following sermon on the day of sacrifice: “Time has completed a cycle to the form of the day when God created the heavens and the earth. The year contains twelve months of which four are sacred, three of them consecutive, viz. Dhul Qa'da, Dhul Hijja. and Muharram, and also Rajab of Mudar which comes between Jumada and Sha'ban.”( The month Rajab is here connected with the North Arabian tribe of Mudar because they are said to have honoured it greatly and never to have broken its sacred nature. The precise reference to its place among the months is said’to be for the purpose of removing any doubt about it owing to the earlier practice of periodically intercalating a month) He asked, “What month is this?" and when the people replied that God and His messenger knew best, he remained silent so that they thought he would give it a new name, but he said, “Is it not Dhul Hijja?" and they replied that it was. He asked, “What town is this?" and when the people replied that God and His apostle knew best, he remained silent so that they thought he would give it a new name, but he said, “Is it not al-Balda?”( This word occurs a number of times in the Qur’an in the general sense of a district, but in 27, 91 it is used particularly of Mecca which is there called “this district (balda)". In the tradition the word seems to be used as if it were a proper name) and they replied that it was. He asked, “What day is this?” and when the people replied that God and His messenger knew best, he remained silent so that they thought he would give it a new name, but he said, “Is it not the day of sacrifice?" and they replied that it was. He said, “Your lives, property and honour must be regarded by you with a sacredness like that of this day of yours in this town of yours in this month of yours. You will meet your Lord, and He will ask you about your deeds. O, do not revert after my death to being people who are astray, beheading one another. Have I delivered the message ?" When they replied that he had he said, “O God, testify ; and let him who is present convey it to him who is absent, for many a one to whom a message is conveyed has a more retentive memory than the one who hears.” Bukhari and Muslim.

Wabara said he asked Ibn ‘Umar when he should throw pebbles at the jamras, to which he replied, “Throw them when your imam does so.” He repeated the question and received the reply, “We used to wait for the proper time, and when the sun passed the meridian we threw them.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Salim told that Ibn ‘Umar used to throw seven pebbles at the nearest1 jamra, saying “God is most great” after throwing each one. He would then go forward into the interior of the valley and after standing facing the qibla for a long time, making supplication and raising his hands, he would throw seven pebbles at the middle one, saying “God is most great” as often as he threw a pebble. He would then turn to the left and go farther into the valley, and after facing the qibla, making supplication, raising his hands and standing for a long time, he would throw seven pebbles at the jamra of the ‘Aqaba from the bottom of the wadi, saying “God is most great” each time be threw a pebble, but he did not stand beside it. Then he would depart and say, “This is how I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) do it.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar said that al-‘Abbas b. ‘Abd al-Muttalib asked permission from God’s messenger to spend in Mecca the nights which were spent at Mina on account of his office of supplying water, and he gave him permission. Bukhari and Muslim.

Ibn ‘Abbas said that when God’s messenger came to the place for supplying water and asked for some, al-‘Abbas said, “Goto your mother, Fadl, and bring God’s messenger something to drink from her.” He asked again for water, and he said, “Messenger of God, they are putting their hands in it.” He asked once more and drank some of it. He then went to Zamzam where they were exerting themselves in supplying water and said, “Go ahead, for you are engaged in a good work.” Then pointing to his shoulder he said, “Were it not that you would be overpowered, I would go down and put the rope on this.” (This means that if the Prophet (ﷺ) were seen drawing water from Zamzam himself others would think they had the right to do the same, and chose who had the office of drawing water would lose their privilege) Bukhari transmitted it.

Anas said that the Prophet (ﷺ) prayed the noon, afternoon, sunset and evening prayer, after which he had a sleep, in al-Muhassab. (The valley opening on al-Abtah between Mecca and Mina ; so called because of the pebbles in it) He then rode to the House and performed the circumambulation. Bukhari transmitted it.

‘Abd al-‘AzIz b. Rufai' said he asked Anas b. Malik to tell him something he knew about God's messenger, viz. where he prayed the noon prayer on yaum at-tarwiya, and he replied that it was in Mina. He asked where he had prayed the afternoon prayer on yaum an-nafr,( There are two days with this name, the first being the 12th of Dhul Hijja and the second the following day. The second of these is said to be the one referred to here) and he replied that it was in al-Abtah.(The part of the wadi of Mecca with small pebbles) He then said, “Do as your commanders do.” Bukhari and Muslim.

‘A’isha said that stopping at al-Abtah was not a sunna ; God’s messenger stopped there simply because it was easier for him to depart from when he left. Bukhari and Muslim.

She said: I put on the ihram at at-Tan‘im for an ’umra , then entered and performed my ’umra . God’s messenger waited for me in al-Abtah till I had finished, then ordered the people to move on. He set out, and when passing the House he performed the circumambulation before the morning prayer, then went off to Medina. I did not find this tradition in what the two shaikhs transmitted, but in Abu Dawud’s version, with a slight difference at the end.

Ibn ‘Abbas told that the people were departing in all directions, so God’s messenger said, “None of you must go off till his obligations at the House are complete, except that this is remitted for a woman who is in her courses.” Bukhari and Muslim.

‘A’isha told that Safiya began to menstruate on the night before yaum an-nafr and said, “It looks as if I shall detain you;” whereupon the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “How unlucky and annoying you are!” He asked whether she had performed the circumambulation on the day of sacrifice, and on being informed that she had, he told her to set off. Bukhari and Muslim.