The Book of Hajj-10a
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The reciter: And Amr al-Naqqad, Ibn Abi 'Umar, and Ahmad ibn 'Ubbadah all narrated to me from Ibn 'Uyaynah. Ibn 'Ubbadah said: Sufyan narrated to us from Amr from 'Ata from Ibn 'Abbas, who said: Sahih Muslim 1266b.
The Shaykh : This hadith clarifies the origin of ramal (running) and that its purpose is to anger the polytheists. The polytheists, during the 'Umrah of al-Qada', sat to the north of the Ka'bah to insult the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions. They used to say: "A group is coming to you who have been weakened by the fever of Yathrib," meaning they have been made weak.
So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered his Companions to run the three circuits from the Black Stone to the Yemeni Corner only, and to walk between the two corners. This was during the 'Umrah of al-Qada', because when they were between the two corners, the Ka'bah shielded them from the polytheists. The purpose was to anger them, but during the Farewell Pilgrimage, he ran from the Black Stone to the Black Stone.
Ramal was not performed in the four circuits because if it were, it would end on an even number, not an odd one. It was not five because that would be a hardship, and it was not two because it would end on an even number. So the most appropriate was three circuits, and because the number three has significance in the Shari'ah in many matters.
Allah. 's Messenger (peace be upon him) observed Sa'i and walked quickly round the House with a view to showing his strength to the polytheists.
إنّما سعى رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وسلّم ورمل بالبيت ، ليري المشركين قوّتهThe Shaykh : This hadith clarifies the origin of ramal (running) and that its purpose is to anger the polytheists. The polytheists, during the 'Umrah of al-Qada', sat to the north of the Ka'bah to insult the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions. They used to say: "A group is coming to you who have been weakened by the fever of Yathrib," meaning they have been made weak.
So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered his Companions to run the three circuits from the Black Stone to the Yemeni Corner only, and to walk between the two corners. This was during the 'Umrah of al-Qada', because when they were between the two corners, the Ka'bah shielded them from the polytheists. The purpose was to anger them, but during the Farewell Pilgrimage, he ran from the Black Stone to the Black Stone.
Ramal was not performed in the four circuits because if it were, it would end on an even number, not an odd one. It was not five because that would be a hardship, and it was not two because it would end on an even number. So the most appropriate was three circuits, and because the number three has significance in the Shari'ah in many matters.