وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ يُحَرِّكُ نَاقَتَهُ فِيهِ وَيَقُولُ «اللَّهُمَّ سَلِّمْ عَهْدِي وَأَقْبِلْ تَوْبَتِي وَأَجِبْ دَعْوَتِي وَاخْلُفْنِي فِيمَنْ تَرَكْتُ بَعْدِي».
The Messenger of Allah (saws) used to move his camel while saying: “O Allah (swt), safeguard my covenant, accept my repentance, answer my supplication, and take care of those I have left behind after me.”
رَوَى هِشَامُ بْنُ اَلْمُثَنَّى عَنْ سَدِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ لَهُ: «اِبْدَءُوا بِمَكَّةَ وَ اِخْتِمُوا بِنَا».
Hisham ibn al-Muthanna narrated from Sadeer, who narrated from Abu Ja’far (a.s), who said to him: "Begin with Mecca and conclude with us."
وَ رَوَى عُمَرُ بْنُ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ قَالَ: «إِنَّمَا أُمِرَ اَلنَّاسُ أَنْ يَأْتُوا هَذِهِ اَلْأَحْجَارَ فَيَطُوفُوا بِهَا ثُمَّ يَأْتُونَا فَيُخْبِرُونَا بِوَلاَيَتِهِمْ وَ يَعْرِضُوا عَلَيْنَا نَصْرَهُمْ ».
Umar ibn Udhaynah narrated from Zurara, who narrated from Abu Ja’far (a.s), who said: "People have been commanded to come to these stones, to circumambulate around them, and then come to us to inform us of their allegiance and present their support to us."
وَ سَأَلَ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ: فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبْدَأُ بِمَكَّةَ أَوْ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَقَالَ لَهُ «اِبْدَأْ بِمَكَّةَ وَ اِخْتِمْ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَإِنَّهُ أَفْضَلُ.
Some of our companions asked Abu Ja'far (a.s): "Should I begin with Mecca or Medina?" Imam (a.s) replied: "Begin with Mecca and conclude with Medina, for that is better."
قال مصنف هذا الكتاب - رحمه الله -: هذه الأخبار إنما وردت فيمن يملك الاختيار ويقدر على أن يبدأ بأيهما شاء من مكة أو المدينة، فأما من يؤخذ به على أحد الطريقين فاحتاج إلى الاخذ فيه شاء أو أبي فلا خيار له في ذلك، فإن اخذ به على طريق المدينة بدأ بها وكان ذلك أفضل له لأنه لا يجوز له أن يدع دخول المدينة وزيارة قبر النبي صلى الله عليه وآله والأئمة عليهم السلام بها وإتيان المشاهد انتظار لرجوعه، فربما لم يرجع أو اخترم دون ذلك، والأفضل له أن يبدأ بالمدينة، وهذا معنى حديث
The author of this book—may Allah (swt) have mercy on him—explains: These narrations apply to those who have the choice and the ability to begin with either Mecca or Medina as they wish. However, for those who are compelled to take a specific route, starting with one and not the other due to circumstances, they do not have this choice. If they are directed to take the route to Medina first, it is better for them to begin there. This is because one should not skip visiting Medina, the Prophet's grave (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), and the shrines of the Imams (a.s) with the intention of postponing it until their return. They might not return or might pass away before doing so. Thus, it is preferable to begin with Medina in such cases, and this is the intended meaning of the narration.
صَفْوَانَ عَنِ اَلْعِيصِ بْنِ اَلْقَاسِمِ قَالَ: سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اَللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ عَنِ اَلْحُجَّاجِ مِنَ اَلْكُوفَةِ يَبْدَءُونَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ أَفْضَلُ أَوْ بِمَكَّةَ فَقَالَ « بِالْمَدِينَةِ ».
Safwan narrated from Al-'Iys ibn Al-Qasim, who said: I asked Abu Abdullah (a.s) about the pilgrims from Kufa—whether starting with Medina or Mecca is better. Imam (a.s) replied: "With Medina."
