First: to keep the people together during their journey and encampment, so that they do not disperse and thereby expose themselves to isolation and danger. Second: to organize them during their journey and encampment by assigning each group a designated position, so that every group knows its place while traveling and becomes familiar with it when encamped, thus avoiding disputes over it and not losing track of it. Third: to proceed gently with them during the journey, so that the weaker among them are not unable to keep pace and those who fall behind do not become lost. It is narrated from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) that he said, “The one whose mount has weakened is the leader, out of consideration for him.” By this he meant that when someone’s mount became weak, the group had to travel at its pace. Fourth: to lead them along the clearest and most fertile routes, while avoiding the roughest and most barren ones. Fifth: to seek out water for them when their supplies run out, and pasture when it becomes scarce. Sixth: to guard them when they encamp and protect them when they depart, so that no attacker may seize them by surprise and no thief may prey upon them. Seventh: to prevent anyone from blocking them from continuing their journey, and to repel anyone who besieges them and prevents them from performing Hajj—by fighting him if he is able, or by paying money if the pilgrims consent to it. He may not compel anyone to pay a protection fee if that person refuses, unless he offers it freely and agrees to it willingly; for paying money in order to secure access to Hajj is not obligatory.