The main guide for pilgrims is the prophet's Hadith: (Take your rituals for pilgrimage from me[1]). Many rituals we do no know its wisdom, however; it is Tawqifiy (bound by a religious text and not amenable to personal opinion). We just copy the example of the prophet Muhammad and this is one of the major goals of pilgrimage or lesser pilgrimage where we copy without argumentation. Allah, Almighty, says: (But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad SAW) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission), An-Nisaa, 65.

Copying the example of the prophet is one of the goals of pilgrimage and lesser pilgrimage, thus it is incumbent upon us to get acquainted with the Sunnah of the prophet during these rituals to achieve this goal.

This goal is plainly demonstrated through two instances of `Umar ibn Al-Khattab. Imam Bukhari narrated on the authority of `Umar ibn Al-Khattab related that when he came to hold the Black Stone, he said: By Allah! I know that you are just a stone having the least benefit or harm for us. Had it not been for the prophet had kissed you, I would have never kissed you[2]).

`Umar "May Allah be pleased with him" declares his intention on holding the Black Stone that it is merely by way of copying the prophet Muhammad, even if the goal or purport is definite.

The second instance is when he talked to him self regarding the Ramal (ritual rapid walk for men in the Arrival Circumambulation) which is practiced due to the instruction of the prophet Muhammad in `Umrat-ul-Qada' (`Umrah performed instead of the `Umrah the Prophet was prevented from completing) to prove for disbelievers in Mecca at that time that Muslims are neither weak nor sick. `Umar, at his term of office, contemplated on the goal for Ramal and said: (what benefit can we get from Ramal? It was just to make polytheists frightened. Now, this goal is passed as Allah has destructed them). However; immediately he said: (Ramal is an act exercised by the prophet, thus we can not abandon it[3]). `Umar restored the condition of the ultimate condition of submission.

Accordingly, the Muslim going to perform Haj or `Umrah must fully adhere to the teachings of the prophet to have them accepted by Allah, Almighty. A very important question arises: what is meant by the Sunnah of the prophet?!

Many Muslims fall err when they think that the Sunnah of the prophet is restricted to the actions he performed in the pilgrimage of 10th Hijri year. In fact, the concept of Sunnah is widely acknowledged. It is every word, verb, or approval by the prophet[4]. In this sense, the prophet did some thing during his pilgrimage or lesser pilgrimage is Sunnah and said another thing, even if he has not done it, then it is Sunnah. Also, the prophet witnesses some of his companions doing something and approved it, it would be Sunnah though he has neither said nor done it. For the Suunah by approval, it is enough from the prophet to keep silent about as he (PBUH) never keep heedless for false.

Based on that, Sunnah of the prophet may be multiplied in the one ritual that is they are rewarded and no blame inflicts any. To illustrate, the prophet Muhammad performed certain actions at day of Sacrifice in a certain sequence that the prophet threw pebbles, slaughtered, shaved his hair, and then made Tawaf-ul-Ifadah (final obligatory circumambulation around the Ka`bah in Hajj). This was the prophet's actions in sequence, however; he addressed those made them inversely (do it, you are not blamed[5]).

Inversion of the sequence of the prophet is also Sunnah that is the one is rewarded. It should not be considered a kind of violating the Sunnah of the prophet Muhammad or at least relinquishment for Sunnah and it is permissible but no reward for the doer. In fact, (do it, you are not blamed) made it Sunnah.

Another example to clear it more, the prophet stayed overnight at the night of sacrifice till the morning at Muzdalifah and then performed dawn Prayer and stayed at the Sacred Monument until midday and went to Mina to throw pebbles. At the same time, the prophet permitted the weak Muslims and those in supervision of weak persons to leave after midnight to throw pebbles. This departure became Sunnah and those departed are rewarded though the prophet himself has not departed.

If we consider deeply these incident, debates among pilgrims would be decreased to large extent, while such debates my lead them to dissention though they are all applying the Sunnah of the prophet nut they are ignorant of that.

The one may wonder of the multi-Sunnah at the one act of the prophet, however; it is a kind of mercy in the Islamic Law. This would facilitate the rituals of pilgrims for all Muslims no matter their potentials or circumstances are. This form of facilitation and tolerance is one of the characteristics of Shari`ah. Also, this leads to easiness over the enormous numbers of pilgrims.

The one may contemplate all millions of pilgrims at the same time performing the same rituals; this would definitely result in dangers. But, a group of pilgrims may throw the pebbles at the time where other pilgrims slaughter their sacrifice, a third group of pilgrims shave their heads while a fourth group perform Tawaf-ul-Ifadah and Sa`y (going between Safa and Marwah during Hajj and `Umrah).

In this manner, variety leads pilgrims safe and deems them all in correspondence to Sunnah and thus rewarded by Allah, Almighty.

How great is Islam!

https://islamstory.com/en/artical/3407582