It is recommended for the one who enters the mosque not to delay anything before circumambulating the House, following the example of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), for he used to do that. Jabir said in his authentic hadith: "Until we came to the House with him, he touched the corner, then jogged (ramala) for three (rounds) and walked for four" (3). From 'Urwah ibn al-Zubayr, from 'Aishah, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when he arrived in Makkah, performed ablution, then circumambulated the House. Agreed upon (4). 'Urwah narrated this from Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar, Mu'awiyah, Ibn al-Zubayr, the Muhajirun (5), 'Aishah, and Asma', the two daughters of Abu Bakr. This is because the tawaf is the greeting of the Sacred Mosque, so it is recommended to begin (6) with it, just as it is recommended for one who enters any other mosque to pray two rak'ahs. He shall begin the tawaf at the Black Stone, touch it—which is to wipe it with his hand—and kiss it. Aslam said: I saw 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, kiss the stone and say: "I know that you are a stone, you neither harm nor benefit. Were it not that I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) kiss you, I would not have kissed you." Agreed upon (7). Ibn Majah (8) narrated from Ibn
(3) Its verification has preceded on page 156. (4) Reported by al-Bukhari, in: Chapter on He Who Circumambulates the House, and Chapter on Tawaf While in a State of Ablution, from the Book of Hajj. Sahih al-Bukhari 2/186, 187, 192, 193. And Muslim, in: Chapter on the Clarification That One in Ihram for 'Umrah Is Not Released by Tawaf..., from the Book of Hajj. Sahih Muslim 2/907. (5) In the margin of the original, there is an addition of "Sulayman", meaning: "and al-Muhajir ibn Sulayman". This is an error, for in Sahih Muslim 2/907, 'Urwah says: "Then I saw the Muhajirun and the Ansar doing that." (6) In manuscripts B and M: "al-bada'ah". (7) Reported by al-Bukhari, in: Chapter on Kissing the Stone, from the Book of Hajj. Sahih al-Bukhari 2/186. And Muslim, in: Chapter on the Recommendation of Kissing the Stone..., from the Book of Hajj. Sahih Muslim 2/925, 926. It was also reported by Abu Dawud, in: Chapter on Kissing the Stone, from the Book of Manasik. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/433; and al-Nasa'i, in: Chapter on Kissing the Stone, from the Book of Manasik. Al-Mujtaba 5/180; and Ibn Majah, in: Chapter on Touching the Stone, from the Book of Manasik. Sunan Ibn Majah 2/981. (8) In: Chapter on Touching the Stone, from the Book of Manasik. Sunan Ibn Majah 2/982. It was also reported by al-Hakim, in: Chapter on Touching the Stone, Kissing It, and Weeping, from the Book of Manasik. Al-Mustadrak 1/454. See what al-Zayla'i said regarding it in Nasb al-Rayah 3/38.
