and his feet descended together with the rest of his body.

He went on to say that the reference to “jog-trotting” (raml) should be understood as the animal’s jog while carrying its rider—but such an interpretation is extremely far-fetched; Allah knows best.

Abū Dāwūd reports:
“Abū Salamah Mūsā related to us; Ḥammād related to us; Abū ʿĀṣim al-Ghanawī informed us, from Abū al-Ṭufayl, who said:
‘I said to Ibn ʿAbbās, “Your people claim that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ jog-trotted around the Kaʿbah and that this is part of his Sunnah.” He replied, “They have told the truth, and they have lied.” I asked, “How have they told the truth and how have they lied?” He said, “They have told the truth: the Messenger of Allah did jog-trot; but they have lied in saying that it is a Sunnah. During the year of al-Ḥudaybiyyah Quraysh said, ‘Leave Muḥammad and his companions; they will die the death of maggot-infested carcasses.’ When, however, they made peace with him on condition that he would come the following year to perform the ḥajj and stay in Mecca three days, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived while the idolaters were posted at Quʿayqiʿān. He therefore said to his Companions, ‘Jog-trot around the House for three circuits—it is not a Sunnah.’”

‘I then said, “Your people also claim that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed the saʿy between al-Ṣafā and al-Marwah on a camel and that this is Sunnah.” He replied, “They have told the truth, and they have lied.” I asked, “How have they told the truth and how have they lied?” He said, “They have told the truth: the Messenger of Allah did make the circuits between al-Ṣafā and al-Marwah on a camel; but they have lied in saying that it is Sunnah. People would not give way before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ or turn aside from him, so he circumambulated on a camel in order that they might hear his words, see where he was, and that their hands might not reach him.”’

Such is the version recorded by Abū Dāwūd.

Muslim likewise transmits it—through Abū Kāmil, from ʿAbd al-Wāḥid ibn Ziyād, from al-Jarīrī, from Abū al-Ṭufayl, from Ibn ʿAbbās—mentioning the excellence of circumambulating the House in wording similar to what has preceded. Then he adds:

‘I said to Ibn ʿAbbās, “Inform me about performing saʿy between al-Ṣafā and al-Marwah while mounted—is it a Sunnah? For your people allege that it is.” He replied, “They have told the truth, and they have lied.” I asked, “What do you mean by saying they have told the truth and they have lied?” He said, “Crowds thronged the Messenger of Allah, exclaiming, ‘This is Muḥammad! This is Muḥammad!’—to the point that even young maidens came out of their houses. The Messenger of Allah never struck people out of his way, so when the crowd became too great he mounted.” Ibn ʿAbbās added, “Walking and jogging are better.”’

Such is Muslim’s wording, which indicates that he ﷺ rode only part of the time; thus the reports are reconciled. Allah knows best.