Ramal in Tawaf
Total Hadiths 2
Understanding Ramal in Tawaf: Sunnah and Significance
These authentic collections outline the profound practice of Ramal in Tawaf, which refers to the act of fast walking during the initial rounds around the Ka'ba. According to the accounts narrated by Ibn `Abbas, when Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions arrived in Mecca, the pagans mockingly claimed that the Muslims had been severely weakened by the fever of Yathrib. In response, the Prophet (ﷺ) explicitly commanded his companions to perform Ramal during the first three rounds of Tawaf and between the hills of Safa and Marwa. This was intentionally done to demonstrate physical strength, vitality, and resilience to the watching pagans. Out of deep compassion and pity for his followers, the Prophet (ﷺ) chose not to make fast walking mandatory for all seven rounds, establishing a balanced Sunnah observed during pilgrimage.
Sahih Bukhari : 4256
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4256
حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ ـ هُوَ ابْنُ زَيْدٍ ـ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَصْحَابُهُ فَقَالَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ إِنَّهُ يَقْدَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَفْدٌ وَهَنَهُمْ حُمَّى يَثْرِبَ. وَأَمَرَهُمُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يَرْمُلُوا الأَشْوَاطَ الثَّلاَثَةَ، وَأَنْ يَمْشُوا مَا بَيْنَ الرُّكْنَيْنِ، وَلَمْ يَمْنَعْهُ أَنْ يَأْمُرَهُمْ أَنْ يَرْمُلُوا الأَشْوَاطَ كُلَّهَا إِلاَّ الإِبْقَاءُ عَلَيْهِمْ. وَزَادَ ابْنُ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَيُّوبَ عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ لَمَّا قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِعَامِهِ الَّذِي اسْتَأْمَنَ قَالَ ارْمُلُوا لِيَرَى الْمُشْرِكُونَ قُوَّتَهُمْ، وَالْمُشْرِكُونَ مِنْ قِبَلِ قُعَيْقِعَانَ.
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and his companions arrived (at Mecca), the pagans said, "There have come to you a group of people who have been weakened by the fever of Yathrib (i.e. Medina)." So the Prophet (ﷺ) ordered his companions to do Ramal (i.e. fast walking) in the first three rounds of Tawaf around the Ka`ba and to walk in between the two corners (i.e. the black stone and the Yemenite corner). The only cause which prevented the Prophet (ﷺ) from ordering them to do Ramal in all the rounds of Tawaf, was that he pitied them.
[1] Ramal : See the glossary.Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4256In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 290USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 557
Sahih Bukhari : 4257
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4257
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدٌ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ بْنِ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ عَطَاءٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ إِنَّمَا سَعَى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالْبَيْتِ وَبَيْنَ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةِ لِيُرِيَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ قُوَّتَهُ.
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) hastened in going around the Ka`ba and between the Safa and Marwa in order to show the pagans his strength. Ibn `Abbas added, "When the Prophet (ﷺ) arrived (at Mecca) in the year of peace (following that of Al-Hudaibiya treaty with the pagans of Mecca), he (ordered his companions) to do Ramal in order to show their strength to the pagans and the pagans were watching (the Muslims) from (the hill of) Quaiqan.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4257In-book reference : Book 64, Hadith 291USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 5, Book 59, Hadith 558
