Ibn Majah

1998. Commentary: After returning from Arafat and Muzdalifah, performing the circumambulation (tawaf) of the House of Allah (Bayt Allah) on the tenth day or any time thereafter is obligatory. The command of the Noble Qur’an is: (وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا بِالْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ) (Al-Hajj: 29) — “And let them circumambulate the Ancient House.” This tawaf is called Tawaf al-Ifadah, Tawaf az-Ziyarah, and also Tawaf ar-Rukn. The best (afdhal) is to perform it on the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah, or at any time during the days of Tashreeq. In this hadith, it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) returned from Makkah and performed the Zuhr prayer in Mina, whereas in the narrations of Jabir (radi Allahu anhu) and A’ishah (radi Allahu anha), it is mentioned that he performed the Zuhr prayer in Makkah, and then proceeded to Mina. Both narrations are authentic in terms of chain (isnad), and the hadith scholars (muhaddithin) have given preference to each according to their own methodology.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) and some others have given preference to the narration of performing the prayer in Mina, and there are some reasons for this:

➊ If the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had performed the Zuhr prayer in Makkah, he would have appointed a deputy (na’ib) in Mina to lead the people in prayer, and this is not reported. Moreover, it is impossible for a deputy to lead the prayer in this situation, and no one has mentioned this, even though on one journey he appointed Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (radi Allahu anhu) as his deputy, and once he appointed Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (radi Allahu anhu) as his deputy when he went to reconcile between the people of Banu Amr ibn Awf. Similarly, during his illness, he appointed him as the imam. As for the question that he did not appoint a deputy in Makkah, there was absolutely no need for it, because the people already had a designated imam who led them in prayer.

➋ If the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) had led the prayer in Makkah, the people of Makkah would have performed the full prayer, because it was obligatory for them to complete it, and the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not, as was his custom, say to them: “Complete your prayer, for we are travelers,” as he had said on the occasion of the conquest of Makkah.

➌ It is possible that the prayer performed or led by the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) during the conquest of Makkah was confused with the rak‘ahs of tawaf, especially since people were praying with him and following his lead. The observer may have thought it was the Zuhr prayer. However, his performing the prayer in Mina cannot be confused in any way, especially since he was the imam of the pilgrims, and no one else was authorized to lead the prayer. How could it be that he would leave them without an imam and they would pray individually? This is extremely far-fetched.

Some hadith scholars, based on the narration of A’ishah (radi Allahu anha), have understood that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) performed the Zuhr prayer in Mina, then went to the House of Allah, as she says that he performed the Zuhr prayer and then, in the latter part of the day, performed Tawaf al-Ifadah, then returned to Mina. See: (Tahdhib Ibn Qayyim rahimahullah)

(1) Supplication (dua) is not made after the stoning (rami) of every jamrah; rather, supplication is made after the stoning for which there remains further stoning to be performed. In other words, after stoning Jamrah Aqabah, supplication is not made, regardless of which day it is, because there is no further stoning after it. However, after stoning each of the first two jamrahs, one should stand facing the qiblah between the two jamrahs and supplicate, raising the hands.

(2) The mention in some hadiths of the valley’s bottom or depression, etc., pertains to that era and continued afterwards as well, but nowadays the area around the jamrahs is level on all sides; there is no rise or fall. The jamrahs have been made pillar-like, and in fact, nowadays they have been given the form of a long wall. Wide and level paved roads have been spread out on all sides so that the crowd can be controlled. All of this has been done for the convenience of the pilgrims.