Farewell Hajj – Part 4

Farewell Hajj – Part 4

At Abwa
Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam continued his journey until he reached a place called Abwa. At this location, there is an elevated mountain on which the respected mother of Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam passed away and is buried.

Wadi e ‘Usfan
Subsequently, Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam arrived at ‘Usfan, approximately 36 miles from Makkah Mukarramah. Upon reaching Wadi e Usfan, Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam inquired about the valley they were in. Upon being informed that it was the valley of ‘Usfan, Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam remarked that both Nabi Hud ‘Alayhis Salaam and Nabi Saleh ‘Alayhis Salaam had passed through this valley, reciting Talbiyah and riding red camels whose reins were made from the bark of date palms, while on their way to perform Hajj of the Baitullah. (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith No. 2067, Pg.495)

Following this, Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam arrived at Sarf, a location situated approximately 9 to 12 miles away. Prior to this, at the Meeqaat, Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam had permitted the companions to choose from any of the three types of Hajj.

Dhu Tuwa and Wadi e Azraq
Thereafter, Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam encamped at Dhu Tuwa. This was on a Sunday corresponding to the 4th of Zul Hijjah. Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam performed the Fajr there, took a bath (Ghusl), and made his way to Makkah Mukarramah through Wadi-e-Azraq. (Sahih Muslim Hadith 166, Pg. 94). While reflecting, he likened the scene to Nabi Musa ‘Alahyhis Salaam ascending Mount Sinai, reciting the Talbiyah and supplicating to Allah with humility. (Sahih Muslim – Hadith 166, Pg. 94)

Arrival in Makkah
Upon arrival, during daylight hours, Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam entered Makkah Mukarramah from the upper side, known as Thaneeyatul ‘Ulya. This location is now known as ‘Mu’aabadah’. Entering Masjid al-Haram through Babus Salaam at mid-morning (Chaast), Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam faced the Baitullah and engaged in fervent Du’aa. Thereafter Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam peformed Tawaaf.

Tawaaf of the Baitullah
Approaching the Black Stone, Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam touched and kissed it, and some accounts even mention him leaning on it. During the first three rounds of Tawaaf, he engaged in Ramal, briskly walking with small steps and shaking his shoulders. Throughout Tawaaf, he observed Idhtiba (draping the upper sheet of Ihram over the left shoulder and leaving the right shoulder uncovered). Upon reaching the Black Stone, he pointed to it with a stick and kissed the stick (Istilaam Inc. extending one’s hand towards the Hajr ul Aswad and kissing it when it’s not possible to reach the black stone)

Completing the Tawaaf
After Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam the Tawaaf, he Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam approached the Maqaam Ibraheem and recited the following verse:

وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى [البقرة: 125]

“Take the Maqaam of Ibraheem (the stone on which Ibraheem ‘Alayhis Salaam stood while building the Ka’bah) as a place of Salaah”

Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam then performed two Rak’aat in such a way that the Maqaam Ibraheem was between him and the Ka’bah, reciting Surah Kaafiroon in the first Rak’ah and Surah Ikhlaas in the second. (Sunan Abu Dawud,Hadith no. 1905, Pg. 220)