saw her lift her forelegs high until he reached Minā. Reported by Abū Dāwūd (1).
Tāwūs and al-Sha'bī likewise rejected it. Al-Sha'bī said: Usāmah ibn Zayd told me that he departed from 'Arafah with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and his mount did not lift its hind legs high as it went along (2) until he reached Jam'. He said: Al-Fadl ibn 'Abbās also told me that he rode behind the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) (3) from Jam', and his mount did not lift its hind legs high as it went along until he stoned the pillar (4). 'Atā' said: These people have introduced this haste only because they want to get ahead of the dust (5).
This error arose from confusing the practice of urging mounts forward at speed when departing from 'Arafah, as the Bedouins and rough-mannered people do, with quickening their pace in the valley of Muhassir. Urging them forward at speed when departing from 'Arafah is an innovation: the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) did not do it; rather, he forbade it. Quickening their pace in the valley of Muhassir, however, is a sunnah reported from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) by Jābir, 'Alī ibn Abī Tālib, and al-'Abbās ibn 'Abd al-Muttalib. 'Umar ibn al-Khattāb practised it; Ibn al-Zubayr would urge his mount forward very vigorously; and 'Ā'ishah and others (6) among the Companions also practised it (7). On this matter, the testimony of those who affirm that it occurred takes precedence over that of those who deny it. And Allah knows best.