Ruling on neglecting Ramal (brisk walking) in Tawaaf (circumambulation) and running in Sa‘y (between Mounts Safa and Marwah)

05/12/2009| IslamWeb

Question

May Allah accept fasting and Qiyaam (standing in Prayer) from us and you. I went for making ‘Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) in Ramadan, and all praise is due to Allah, but in Tawaaf I did not do Ramal during the first three rounds. Also, in Sa‘y I did not run between the two green marks. In the third Sa‘y, I went to drink water because I did not drink after finishing the Tawaaf due to the overcrowding. Then I returned to the Mas‘a (Place of Sa’y) and resumed hastening. What is the ruling on that? Please advise.

 

Fatwa

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

It is recommended in both Hajj and ‘Umrah to do Ramal (fast walking) in the first three rounds of Tawaaf and to hasten between the two green marks in Sa‘y. Anyone who cannot achieve that due to overcrowding or because he forgot or for other reasons is not liable for anything. However, an act of Sunnah should not be deliberately overlooked without an excuse. Also, interrupting Sa‘y to drink water does not affect the validity of Sa‘y because it is a negligible matter. Al-Baaji, a Maaliki scholar said, “A pilgrim who buys, sells, or performs a funeral prayer in the course of Sa‘y can resume Sa‘y if the activity is short. If it is long, then he has to start over from the beginning.”

Allah Knows best.