This, then, is the basis for the prescribed practice of ramal. But should it be said that, after the conquest of Mecca and the strengthening of Islam, this ruling ceased because its cause had ceased? Or should we say that the ruling remains?

The answer is the latter. Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, raised this very question to himself and said: “What is the point of ramal now, when Allah has granted us might?” He then answered himself: “It is something the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did, and we must do it.” (1)

This is because, during the Farewell Pilgrimage, the reason for it—the angering of the polytheists—had disappeared, since there were no polytheists present to be angered. Yet the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, retained it, and even added to the ramal performed during the Compensatory Umrah. In the Farewell Pilgrimage, he performed ramal from one corner to the other—that is, throughout all three circuits (2). The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, performed ramal even between the two corners, whereas during the Compensatory Umrah he performed ramal only from the Corner to the Yemeni Corner. This demonstrates that its prescribed status remains.

If someone were to ask: How can its prescribed status remain when its cause has ceased? For wisdom dictates that when the cause ceases, the effect ceases; and when the operative reason ceases, that which results from it also ceases.

The answer is that although the reason was to anger the polytheists, and there are no polytheists here now, a person should nevertheless remember that a Muslim is required to anger the polytheists. Thus, while performing ramal in circumambulation, you should feel as though the polytheists are before you, so that you may anger them; for angering the polytheists is among that which draws one nearer to Allah, the Exalted. Allah Most High says: “That is because neither thirst