ABSTRACT
The famous Muslim scholar Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal (d. 855) reports the following:
Yaḥyā related to us on the authority of Ismāʿīl: Wabara reported to me, saying:
A man came to Ibn ʿUmar and said: “Is it permissible to circumambulate the House (i.e. the Kaʿba), while I am in the state of ritual consecration (muḥrim)?” He (i.e. Ibn ʿUmar) replied: “What stops you from doing so?”’ [The man] answered: “Someone prohibited us from doing so until the pilgrims return from their stopping place(s). However, I deem him to incline to the worldly [affairs] by having spoken so, while you show astonishment for our [actions we do] because of him.” Ibn ʿUmar said: “The Messenger of God, s., made the pilgrimage, then circumambulated the House and [then] ran between al-Ṣafā and al-Marwa. And [know]: The habitual practices (sunna) of God the Almighty and His Messenger are more correct than following the habitual practice of someone else. [I wish] you would act rightly!”
(Ibn Ḥanbal 1993–2001: IX 170 no. 5194)