Explanation of the Book of Hajj-07a
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The reciter: Sulayman ibn Harb narrated to us, and Hammad, who is ibn Zayd, narrated to us from Ayyub from Sa'id ibn Jubayr from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: Sahih al-Bukhari 1602
The Shaykh : This is the origin of the running (ramal), and that is that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) performed the 'Umrah of al-Qada', in which the truce was concluded at al-Hudaybiyyah, Quraysh gathered intending to gloat over the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and his Companions. They gathered from the northern side, and some of them said to others, "A group is coming to you who have been weakened by the fever of Yathrib." The meaning of "weakened them" is "weakened them," because the city, which Allah has honored, became famous for its fever until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) called upon his Lord to transfer its fever to al-Juhfah. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) ordered them to run the first three circuits, except between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, where they would walk in the usual manner, because Quraysh would not see them in that direction. The purpose of the running in that year was to anger the polytheists; this is the reason. If someone asks, "If this reason is removed, is the prescription of the running removed?" The answer is: No, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) in the Farewell Pilgrimage—O Mahmud, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) in the Farewell Pilgrimage ordered them to run all the circuits, even between the two corners. This latter part, which I mean the running between the two corners, is what had its reason removed, because its ruling in the first instance was to walk in the usual manner so that Quraysh would not see them. So this reason was removed, and they were ordered to complete all three circuits from corner to corner. Thus, this issue is composed of two things: one thing remained, which is the running, and another thing was abrogated, which is walking between the two corners. The reason is that the reason for walking between the two corners was removed, whereas the reason for the prescription of running in all the circuits has not truly been removed, because this reminds the Muslims of strength and shows their enemy that they are strong. Were it not for this running, we would not have mentioned the story of the running in the 'Umrah of al-Qada', nor would it have come to mind. In fact, the reason remains, which is that Muslims should remember strength, endurance, and bravery. Yes, O Salim.
The questioner : The running...
The Shaykh : It comes to us, do not rush, yes.
When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and his companions came to Mecca, the pagans circulated the news that a group of people were coming to them and they had been weakened by the Fever of Yathrib (Medina). So the Prophet ordered his companions to do Ramal in the first three rounds of Tawaf of the Ka`ba and to walk between the two corners (The Black Stone and Yemenite corner). The Prophet (ﷺ) did not order them to do Ramal in all the rounds of Tawaf out of pity for them.
قدم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وأصحابه فقال المشركون إنه يقدم عليكم وقد وهنهم حمى يثرب فأمرهم النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم أن يرملوا الأشواط الثلاثة وأن يمشوا بين الركنين ولم يمنعه أن يأمرهم أن يرملوا الأشواط كلها إلا الإبقاء عليهمThe Shaykh : This is the origin of the running (ramal), and that is that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) performed the 'Umrah of al-Qada', in which the truce was concluded at al-Hudaybiyyah, Quraysh gathered intending to gloat over the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) and his Companions. They gathered from the northern side, and some of them said to others, "A group is coming to you who have been weakened by the fever of Yathrib." The meaning of "weakened them" is "weakened them," because the city, which Allah has honored, became famous for its fever until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) called upon his Lord to transfer its fever to al-Juhfah. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) ordered them to run the first three circuits, except between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, where they would walk in the usual manner, because Quraysh would not see them in that direction. The purpose of the running in that year was to anger the polytheists; this is the reason. If someone asks, "If this reason is removed, is the prescription of the running removed?" The answer is: No, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) in the Farewell Pilgrimage—O Mahmud, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) in the Farewell Pilgrimage ordered them to run all the circuits, even between the two corners. This latter part, which I mean the running between the two corners, is what had its reason removed, because its ruling in the first instance was to walk in the usual manner so that Quraysh would not see them. So this reason was removed, and they were ordered to complete all three circuits from corner to corner. Thus, this issue is composed of two things: one thing remained, which is the running, and another thing was abrogated, which is walking between the two corners. The reason is that the reason for walking between the two corners was removed, whereas the reason for the prescription of running in all the circuits has not truly been removed, because this reminds the Muslims of strength and shows their enemy that they are strong. Were it not for this running, we would not have mentioned the story of the running in the 'Umrah of al-Qada', nor would it have come to mind. In fact, the reason remains, which is that Muslims should remember strength, endurance, and bravery. Yes, O Salim.
The questioner : The running...
The Shaykh : It comes to us, do not rush, yes.