Category: Q n A

I went out to Mina on the day of Tarwiya and met Anas going on a donkey. I asked him, “Where did
the Prophet (ﷺ) offer the Zuhr prayer on this day?” Anas replied, “See where your chiefs pray and pray
similarly.”

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) offered a two-rak`at prayer at Mina. Abu Bakr, `Umar and `Uthman, (during the early
years of his caliphate) followed the same practice.

The Prophet (ﷺ) led us in a two-rak`at prayer at Mina although our number was more than ever and we
were in better security than ever.

I offered (only a) two rak`at prayer with the Prophet (at Mina), and similarly with Abu Bakr and with
`Umar, and then you d offered in opinions. Wish that I would be lucky enough to have two of the four
rak`at accepted (by Allah).

I asked `Urwa bin Az-Zubair (regarding the Hajj of the Prophet (ﷺ) ). `Urwa replied, “Aisha narrated,
‘When the Prophet (ﷺ) reached Mecca, the first thing he started with was the ablution, then he performed
Tawaf of the Ka`ba and his intention was not `Umra alone (but Hajj and `Umra together).’ ” Later Abu
Bakr I performed the Hajj and the first thing he started with was Tawaf of the Ka`ba and it was not
`Umra alone (but Hajj and `Umra together). And then `Umar did the same. Then `Uthman performed
the Hajj and the first thing he started with was Tawaf of the Ka`ba and it was not `Umra alone. And
then Muawiya and `Abdullah bin `Umar did the same. I performed Hajj with Ibn Az-Zubair and the
first thing he started with was Tawaf of the Ka`ba and it was not `Umra alone, (but Hajj and `Umra
together). Then I saw the Muhajirin (Emigrants) and Ansar doing the same and it was not `Umra
alone. And the last person I saw doing the same was Ibn `Umar, and he did not do another `Umra after
finishing the first. Now here is Ibn `Umar present amongst the people! They neither ask him nor
anyone of the previous ones. And all these people, on entering Mecca, would not start with anything
unless they had performed Tawaf of the Ka`ba, and would not finish their Ihram. And no doubt, I saw
my mother and my aunt, on entering Mecca doing nothing before performing Tawaf of the Ka`ba, and
they would not finish their lhram. And my mother informed me that she, her sister, Az-Zubair and
such and such persons had assumed lhram for `Umra and after passing their hands over the Corner
(the Black Stone) (i.e. finishing their Umra) they finished their Ihram.”

The people doubted whether the Prophet (ﷺ) was observing the fast on the Day of `Arafat, so I sent
something for him to drink and he drank it.

I asked `Aisha : “How do you interpret the statement of Allah,. : Verily! (the mountains) As-Safa and
Al-Marwa are among the symbols of Allah, and whoever performs the Hajj to the Ka`ba or performs
`Umra, it is not harmful for him to perform Tawaf between them (Safa and Marwa.) (2.158). By
Allah! (it is evident from this revelation) there is no harm if one does not perform Tawaf between Safa
and Marwa.” `Aisha said, “O, my nephew! Your interpretation is not true. Had this interpretation of
yours been correct, the statement of Allah should have been, ‘It is not harmful for him if he does not
perform Tawaf between them.’ But in fact, this divine inspiration was revealed concerning the Ansar
who used to assume lhram for worship ping an idol called “Manat” which they used to worship at a
place called Al-Mushallal before they embraced Islam, and whoever assumed Ihram (for the idol),
would consider it not right to perform Tawaf between Safa and Marwa.
When they embraced Islam, they asked Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) regarding it, saying, “O Allah’s
Apostle! We used to refrain from Tawaf between Safa and Marwa.” So Allah revealed: ‘Verily; (the
mountains) As-Safa and Al-Marwa are among the symbols of Allah.’ ” Aisha added, “Surely, Allah’s
Apostle set the tradition of Tawaf between Safa and Marwa, so nobody is allowed to omit the Tawaf
between them.” Later on I (`Urwa) told Abu Bakr bin `Abdur-Rahman (of `Aisha’s narration) and he
said, ‘I have not heard of such information, but I heard learned men saying that all the people, except
those whom `Aisha mentioned and who used to assume lhram for the sake of Manat, used to perform
Tawaf between Safa and Marwa.
When Allah referred to the Tawaf of the Ka`ba and did not mention Safa and Marwa in the Qur’an, the
people asked, ‘O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! We used to perform Tawaf between Safa and Marwa and Allah has
revealed (the verses concerning) Tawaf of the Ka`ba and has not mentioned Safa and Marwa. Is there
any harm if we perform Tawaf between Safa and Marwa?’ So Allah revealed: “Verily As-Safa and Al-
Marwa are among the symbols of Allah.” Abu Bakr said, “It seems that this verse was revealed
concerning the two groups, those who used to refrain from Tawaf between Safa and Marwa in the Pre-
Islamic Period of ignorance and those who used to perform the Tawaf then, and after embracing Islam
they refrained from the Tawaf between them as Allah had enjoined Tawaf of the Ka`ba and did not
mention Tawaf (of Safa and Marwa) till later after mentioning the Tawaf of the Ka`ba.’

I asked Anas bin Malik while we were proceeding from Mina to `Arafat, “What do you use to do on
this day when you were with Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) ?” Anas said, “Some of us used to recite Talbiya and
nobody objected to that, and others used to recite Takbir and nobody objected to that.”

Ibn `Umar said, “When Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) performed the first Tawaf he did Ramal in the first three
rounds and then walked in the remaining four rounds (of Tawaf of the Ka`ba), where as in performing
Tawaf between Safa and Marwa he used to run in the midst of the rainwater passage,” I asked Nafi`,
“Did `Abdullah (bin `Umar) use to walk steadily on reaching the Yemenite Corner?” He replied, “No,
unless people were crowded at the Corner; otherwise he would not leave it without touching it.”

`Abdul Malik wrote to Al-Hajjaj that he should not differ from Ibn `Umar during Hajj. On the Day of
`Arafat, when the sun declined at midday, Ibn `Umar came along with me and shouted near Al-
Hajjaj’s cotton (cloth) tent. Al-Hajjaj came Out, wrapping himself with a waist-sheet dyed with
safflower, and said, “O Abu `Abdur-Rahman! What is the matter?” He said, If you want to follow the
Sunna (the tradition of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) ) then proceed (to `Arafat).” Al-Hajjaj asked, “At this
very hour?” Ibn `Umar said, “Yes.” He replied, “Please wait for me till I pour some water over my
head (i.e. take a bath) and come out.” Then Ibn `Umar dismounted and waited till Al-Hajjaj came out.
So, he (Al-Hajjaj) walked in between me and my father (Ibn `Umar). I said to him, “If you want to
follow the Sunna then deliver a brief sermon and hurry up for the stay at `Arafat.” He started looking
at `Abdullah (Ibn `Umar) (inquiringly), and when `Abdullah noticed that, he said that he had told the
truth.