When to Walk on Foot for al-Hajj and When to Ride Transporting Animals

“I once said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), that we want to leave for Makkah on foot. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must not go on foot. Go riding/ I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, we are told that al-Hassan ibn Ali (a.s.), would perform al-Hajj on foot.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Al-Hassan, ibn Ali (a.s.), performed al-Hajj on foot and accompanied carriages on camel’s backs and riding camels.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about performing al-Hajj on foot, a Hadith that had been narrated from him (the Imam) and his view about it. He (the Imam) said, ‘People perform al-Hajj both on foot and riding.’ I then said that that is not my question.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘What was your question?’ I asked, ‘Which way is more desirable to you?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘I like that you travel riding because it preserves your strength for supplications and worship.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about traveling for al-Hajj if on foot is more virtuous or riding. He (the Imam) said, ‘If one is affluent and he travels on foot to reduce his expenses then riding is more virtuous.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about traveling for al-Hajj if on foot was more virtuous or riding. He (the Imam) said, ‘Riding is more virtuous because the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, traveled for al-Hajj riding.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of al-Hassan (a.s.), and his walking on foot; if it was from Makkah or al-Madinah. He (the Imam) said, ‘It was from Makkah.’ I then asked, ‘If I visit the House, should I walk on foot or riding?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Al-Hassan (a.s.), would visit riding.’ I then asked, ‘Is riding more virtuous or walking on foot?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Riding is more virtuous than walking on foot because the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, did so riding.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man traveling on foot; where it stops? He (the Imam) said, ‘When one throws the pebbles on Jamarah al-‘Aqabah and shaves his head his walking stops, and he must visit riding.”’

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said that abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the one who travels on foot for al-Hajj, has said, ‘When one throws pebbles on Jamar, he can visit the House riding; and he is not obligated for anything in this matter.’”