you hold fast to it: the Book of Allah. You will be questioned about me, so what will you say?’
They replied, ‘We testify that you have conveyed the message, discharged your duty, and offered sincere counsel.’ Raising his forefinger towards heaven and pointing towards the people, he said, ‘O Allah, bear witness! O Allah, bear witness!’ He repeated this three times.
The call to prayer was then given, followed by the call to commence prayer, and he led the noon prayer. Another call to commence prayer was given, and he led the afternoon prayer, without offering any prayer between the two.
He then rode to the standing place, where he positioned his she-camel al-Qaswā’ with her belly towards the rocks, kept the pedestrians’ path before him, and faced the direction of prayer. He remained there until the sun had set and the yellow light had faded a little after its disc had disappeared.
He seated Usāmah ibn Zayd behind him and set off, drawing al-Qaswā’s reins back so tightly that her head touched his saddle’s footrest. Gesturing with his right hand, he said, ‘O people, be calm! Be calm!’ Whenever he reached a sandy rise, he loosened the reins a little to let her climb it.
He continued until he reached Muzdalifah, where he led the sunset and night prayers with one call to prayer and two calls to commence prayer, without offering any voluntary prayer between them. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, then lay down until dawn. When the dawn became clear to him, he led the dawn prayer with a call to prayer and a call to commence prayer.
He then mounted al-Qaswā’ and rode to al-Mash‘ar al-Harām, where he faced the direction of prayer, supplicated to Allah, proclaimed His greatness, affirmed His oneness, and declared that none has the right to be worshipped but Him. He remained there until it was very light, then departed before sunrise, seating al-Fadl ibn ‘Abbās behind him. Al-Fadl was a fair-complexioned man with a handsome face and fine features.
As the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, set off, some women passed swiftly by, and al-Fadl began looking at them. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, placed his hand over al-Fadl’s face, and al-Fadl’s face turned to the other side.
On reaching Muhassir, he quickened his pace a little. He then followed the middle road leading to the largest jamrah (stoning site). When he reached the jamrah near the mosque, he pelted it with seven pebbles, saying ‘Allah is the Greatest’ with each one. Each pebble was the size of those flicked between the fingers. He threw them from the valley floor, then went to the mosque