CHAPTER 49 – Obligatory Tawaf
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, during the Farewell Hajj, circled the Ka'bah on his camel. He was performing istilam (touching) of the Black Stone with a stick.
Safiyya bint Shayba (may Allah be pleased with her) related:
That on the day of the Conquest, when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) settled in Mecca, he circled the Ka’bah mounted on a camel. He was touching the Black Stone with a staff that he held. I stood looking at the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).
Abū Tufayl, may Allah be pleased with him, related: I saw the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, circling the Ka‘bah on his camel, touching the Black Stone with a staff he held, and then kissing the staff. Muḥammad ibn Rāfi added: After that, he ascended Safa and Marwa. He performed saʿy (the ritual walking between Safa and Marwa) seven rounds while riding his camel.
Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) performed the tawaf of the Ka’bah during his Farewell Hajj while riding his camel, so that the people could see him clearly, he could be seen openly, [and] so they could honor him and ask him their questions. The companions surrounded him from all sides.
According to a narration from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) arrived in Mecca during the Farewell Hajj, feeling unwell; he performed the circumambulation mounted on his camel. At each pillar, he saluted the Black Stone with his staff. After completing the circumambulation, he dismounted his camel and performed two rak’ahs of prayer.
According to the narration of Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, the wife of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:
I complained to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, about my illness.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Perform your circumambulation riding a mount behind the people.” So I performed my circumambulation (mounted). At that time, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was praying near the Ka’bah reciting Surah Tūr. [611]
EXPLANATION:
It is clearly stated in Bukhari that the prayer the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, performed with Surah Tūr was the morning prayer. Indeed, he ordered her to perform her circumambulation mounted while people were praying the Fajr prayer, reciting the verses of Surah Nās. Those who are carried on shoulders or make tawaf on litters should also perform their circumambulation behind those performing it, without causing anyone any harm.