Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (7/228)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

Chapter: Entering Mecca

It is recommended to enter it from its upper side, and to enter the Mosque through the Gate of Banu Shaybah. When he sees the House, he should raise his hands and say the supplication that has been narrated …

His statement, “Chapter: Entering Mecca,” means: How should the pilgrim enter Mecca? From where should he enter it? And when should he enter it?

It is preferable to enter it early in the day, since the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, entered it in the forenoon (1). But if that is not possible for him, then he should enter it in whatever manner is feasible for him.

His statement, “It is recommended to enter it from its upper side,” means from the upper part of Mecca, by way of al-Hajun. Is this a specifically intended sunnah, or was it merely coincidental? In other words, should a person deliberately go in order to enter from its upper side, or should we say that if his route comes from its upper side, it is preferable that he not divert from it to another place?

The apparent meaning of the author’s words is that one is recommended to deliberately enter from its upper side, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, entered it from its upper side (2).

However, what appears to be correct is that it is recommended when doing so is more convenient for his entry. The evidence for this is that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not command people to enter from its upper side.

His statement, “and the Mosque through the Gate of Banu Shaybah,” means that it is recommended to

(1) Narrated by al-Bukhari, Book of Hajj, chapter: “Entering Mecca during the daytime” (1574); and Muslim, Book of Hajj, chapter: “The recommendation to spend the night at Dhu Tuwa” (1259), on the authority of Ibn Umar. (2) This is based on the hadith of Ibn Umar, who said: “When the Prophet entered Mecca, he would enter by the upper mountain pass at al-Batha; and when he left, he would depart by the lower mountain pass.” Narrated by al-Bukhari, Book of Hajj, chapter: “From where one enters Mecca” (1575); and Muslim, Book of Hajj, chapter: “The recommendation to enter Mecca by the upper mountain pass” (1257).

بَابُ دُخُولِ مَكَّةَ يُسَنُّ مِنْ أعْلَاهَا، والمَسْجِدِ مِنْ بابِ بَنِي شَيْبَةَ. فَإِذَا رَأى البَيْتَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ، وَقَالَ مَا وَرَدَ، ....... قوله: «باب دخول مكة»، أي: للحاج، كيف يدخل مكة؟ ومن أين يدخلها؟ ومتى يدخلها؟ الأفضل أن يدخلها في أول النهار؛ لأن النبي ﷺ دخلها ضحى (١)، ولكن إذا لم يتيسر له ذلك فليدخلها على الوجه الذي يتيسر له. قوله: «يُسَنُّ من أعلاها»، أي: من أعلى مكة من الحجون، وهل هذا سنة مقصودة، أو وقع اتفاقاً؟ بمعنى هل يتعمد الإنسان أن يذهب ليدخل من أعلاها، أو نقول إذا كان طريقه من أعلاها، فالأفضل ألا يعدل عنه إلى مكان آخر؟ ظاهر كلام المؤلف أنه يسن قصد الدخول من أعلاها؛ لأن النبي ﷺ دخلها من أعلاها (٢). ولكن الذي يظهر أنه يسن إذا كان ذلك أرفق لدخوله، ودليل هذا أن النبي ﷺ لم يأمر أن يدخل الناس من أعلاها. قوله: «والمسجد من باب بني شيبة»، يعني يسن أن

(١) أخرجه البخاري في الحج/ باب دخول مكة نهاراً (١٥٧٤)؛ ومسلم في الحج/ باب استحباب المبيت بذي طوى (١٢٥٩) عن ابن عمر ﵄. (٢) لحديث ابن عمر ﵄ قال: «كان النبي ﷺ إذا دخل مكة دخل من الثنية العليا التي بالبطحاء، وإذا خرج خرج من الثنية السفلى». أخرجه البخاري في الحج/ باب من أين يدخل مكة (١٥٧٥)؛ ومسلم في الحج/ باب استحباب دخول مكة من الثنية العليا … (١٢٥٧).