Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbās رضي الله عنهما narrates:
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to Makkah in 7 AH for ‘Umrat al-Qaḍā’, the polytheists said:
"Muḥammad ﷺ has come along with people weakened by the fever of Yathrib (Madinah)."
So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded that during the first three circuits of ṭawāf, the Muslims should perform raml (a brisk walk with quick, short steps, showing strength), and between the two Yamani corners they should walk normally. He did not command raml in all seven circuits so as to make it easier for them.
(Bukhari: 1602, Kitāb al-Ḥajj: Chapter on How Raml Began; Muslim: 1266; Ahmad: 1/290; Nasā’ī: 5/230, 2945; Ibn Khuzaymah: 2720)
Raml was legislated for a specific purpose — to show strength to the Quraysh — even though that exact circumstance no longer exists today, it remains Sunnah in order to follow the Prophet ﷺ and to remember the glory days of Islam.
Sayyiduna ‘Umar رضي الله عنه also said:
لا ندع شيئا كنا نفعله على عهد رسول الله
"We will not abandon anything we used to do during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ."
(Hasan Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawud: 1662; Abu Dawud: 1887; Ibn Majah: 2952; Ahmad: 1/45; Ibn Khuzaymah: 2708)
At that time, the disbelievers of Makkah would gather only on the side of the two Shami corners, so the Sunnah of raml applied specifically to that section of the ṭawāf.
Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbās رضي الله عنهما narrates:
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to Makkah in 7 AH for ‘Umrat al-Qaḍā’, the polytheists said:
"Muḥammad ﷺ has come along with people weakened by the fever of Yathrib (Madinah)."
So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded that during the first three circuits of ṭawāf, the Muslims should perform raml (a brisk walk with quick, short steps, showing strength), and between the two Yamani corners they should walk normally. He did not command raml in all seven circuits so as to make it easier for them.
(Bukhari: 1602, Kitāb al-Ḥajj: Chapter on How Raml Began; Muslim: 1266; Ahmad: 1/290; Nasā’ī: 5/230, 2945; Ibn Khuzaymah: 2720)
Purpose of Raml
Raml was legislated for a specific purpose — to show strength to the Quraysh — even though that exact circumstance no longer exists today, it remains Sunnah in order to follow the Prophet ﷺ and to remember the glory days of Islam.
Sayyiduna ‘Umar رضي الله عنه also said:
لا ندع شيئا كنا نفعله على عهد رسول الله
"We will not abandon anything we used to do during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ."
(Hasan Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawud: 1662; Abu Dawud: 1887; Ibn Majah: 2952; Ahmad: 1/45; Ibn Khuzaymah: 2708)
Extent of Raml
At that time, the disbelievers of Makkah would gather only on the side of the two Shami corners, so the Sunnah of raml applied specifically to that section of the ṭawāf.
