Explanation of the Book of Hajj-03b

The reciter: Abdullah ibn Muhammad narrated to us, he said, Wahb ibn Jarir narrated to us, my father narrated to us from Yunus al-Ayili from al-Zuhri from Ubayd Allah ibn Abdullah from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both):

The Shaykh : The author (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The Chapter on Riding and Riding Behind in Hajj." It appears, and Allah knows best, that he leans toward the view that walking is better; that performing Hajj on foot is better. There is scholarly disagreement among the scholars on this issue: is it better to perform Hajj while riding, or is it better to perform Hajj while walking? This disagreement existed in their time (may Allah have mercy on them), when a person could ride comfortably and dismount comfortably, and likewise walk. But in our present time, which is more difficult, walking or riding?
Sometimes riding is more difficult; sometimes people are pushed from 'Arafah to Muzdalifah and do not arrive until morning. This happened five years ago. Now, praise be to Allah, it has become lighter because the government, may Allah guide them, opened many roads. So here, riding is more difficult, and sometimes it is the opposite. Do we say that riding is better because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed Hajj while riding, or that walking is better because a person is free to act as he wishes? We see that riding and walking in themselves are not differentiated in merit, but the matter concerns the comfort of the pilgrim. Whatever is easier for him and more upright for his worship is better. And his mention of "riding behind" (al-irtidaf) also: riding behind on a mount in Hajj and otherwise, if the animal can bear it, there is no harm in it. Mu'adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) rode behind the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on a donkey, and this story is in the context of Hajj. He was a freed slave among the freed slaves and he was one of the young members of the Prophet's household . This was part of his humility (peace and blessings be upon him); he did not have the elders of the people ride behind him, even though everyone wished to be his companion. But out of his humility, he had a freed slave ride behind him first, and a young man second. And it was said of him (peace and blessings be upon him) that no one would say "make way, make way" before him, and there was no pushing or striking. He performed Hajj on a worn-out camel, may Allah's prayers and peace be upon him. And so the people learned how the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed Hajj. Yes.