Ibn Ubaid bin Umair narrated from his father:
Ibn Umar was clinging on the two corners (in a manner that I had not seen any of the Companions of the Prophet doing) so I said: 'O Abu Abdur-Rahman! You are clinging on the two corners in a manner that I have not seen any of the Companions of the Prophet clining.' So he said: 'I do it because I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: Touching them atones for sins. And I heard him saying: Whoever performs Tawaf around this House seven times and he keeps track of it, then it is as if he freed a slave. And I heard him saying: One foot is not put down, nor another raised except that Allah removes a sin from him and records a good merit for him.