Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Abu Tufail that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that on the occasion of the Umrah of Qada, when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) reached the place of Marraz-Zahran, the companions heard that the Quraysh were talking about the weakness of the Muslims’ bodies. So the companions suggested, “If we slaughter some of our camels and eat their meat and make broth to drink, then when we appear before them, we will look well-fed and healthy.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Do not do that, rather gather your provisions in one place.” The companions gathered all the food in one place, spread out leather mats, and everyone ate until they were full, and each one filled his own bag with food as well. After that, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Masjid al-Haram, while the Quraysh were sitting towards the side of the Hijr (Hatim). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed idtiba’ with his cloak (i.e., during tawaf, he passed the middle part of his cloak under his right armpit and placed both ends over his left shoulder, thus exposing his right shoulder; this act is called idtiba’). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Let not these Quraysh feel any weakness in you.” Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) touched the Black Stone and began the tawaf with ramal (brisk walking), until when he reached the Yemeni Corner and was out of sight of the Quraysh, he walked normally up to the Black Stone. When the Quraysh saw their condition, they said, “These people are not content with walking normally during tawaf, rather they are leaping and skipping like deer.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) performed ramal in three circuits (and walked normally between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone), thus this act became a Sunnah. Abu Tufail says: Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) informed me that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also performed this act during the Farewell Hajj.