with it, for it comes from a blessed tree.” Allah Most High says:

“The glass is as though it were a brilliant star, lit from a blessed olive tree, neither eastern nor western, whose oil would almost glow even if no fire touched it.”

Likewise, He says:

“And gardens of dense growth.”

Likewise, He says concerning the sea:

“So that you may eat fresh meat from it and extract ornaments from it that you wear.”

And He says:

“And He has provided you with ships and livestock on which you ride, so that you may settle upon their backs, then remember your Lord’s blessing when you have settled upon them and say, ‘Glory be to Him who has subjected this to us, for we could not have subdued it ourselves. And surely to our Lord we will return.’”

Yet neither the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, nor Abū Bakr nor ʿUmar ever sailed upon the sea. He, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, told Umm Harām bint Milhān of people from his nation who would sail upon the sea, fighting in Allah’s cause, like kings upon couches. She said, “Pray to Allah to make me one of them.” He replied, “You are one of them.”

The practice of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was to eat whatever food was available in his land, wear whatever clothing was available, and ride whatever mounts were available, from among the things Allah Most High had permitted. Thus, whoever uses what is available in his own land is following the Sunnah. Likewise, he set out from his city to perform pilgrimage to the Sacred House. Whoever sets out from his own city to perform pilgrimage to the Sacred House is therefore following the Sunnah, even if his city is not the same as the Prophet’s.