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How to perform Tawaf

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Performing Tawaf is very easy. You can perform Tawaf just as an act of worship or you may perform it as a mandatory part of umrah. Basically, Tawaf is to circumambulate the Kaaba 7 times. In other words, Tawaf is to walk seven times around Kaaba, anticlockwise. Each round starts form Hajr al Aswad corner and finish at Hajr al Aswad corner. You can find the Hajr al Aswad corner with a unique Embroidery or you can find a green light indicating Hajr al aswad corner at the Mataf area. One complete circuit of the Kaaba is known as a Shawt (Arabic: شوط).

unique Embroidery on the hajr al aswad corner

Read this article if you want to know how to perform umrah.

If you are performing Tawaf as an voluntary act of worship, you can wear any clothes as long as it is modest in Islam. But you must always be in the state of ablution (wudu).

but,

If you are performing Tawaf as a part of an umrah, then you must be in the state of ihram and the state of ablution. Men who perform Tawaf in ihram clothes must expose their right shoulder and cover the left shoulder. This act is called Al-idh’tiba. Men also need to brisk walk or walk energetically during the first three rounds, which is called Ramal. Neglecting Idtiba or ramal will not invalidate the Tawaf.

Idtiba or Al-idh’tiba (Arabic: الاضطباع) refers to the practice of uncovering the right shoulder during Tawaf al-Umrah and Tawaf al-Qudum. It is Sunnah to perform Idtiba for the entire duration of the Tawaf i.e. for seven circuits.

Al idh’tiba. Ihram during tawaf. right shoulder exposed while the left should is covered.

Where to perform tawaf?

The area where we perform tawaf is known as Mataf area. Mataf are is the are just around Kaaba. but if that place is crowded. you can perform tawaf in first second or third floors which also includes a mataf area. you can see people are performing tawaf. but you must understand the distance at the upper floors are longer compared to the ground floor. you must not enter the haatim (semi circle area adjacent to kaaba) but you should walk around it. Since haatim is a part of kaaba.

Landmarks of Kaaba

Before performing a tawaf it is very important to know the landmarks of Kaaba. I advise you to read the article Kaaba.

These are the steps to perform a tawaf.

Before Tawaf
Dress during Tawaf
Take ablution
Al-idh’tiba for men
Niyyat
Istilam at Hajr al Aswad Corner
Start Round one Ramal
Istilam at Yamani corner
finish round one.

Complete 7 rounds as above. Men, Brisk only on first three rounds.

Before Tawaf

Before Tawaf you must be in a clean state to perform Tawaf. men and women who are unclean should not perform Tawaf.

Dress During Tawaf

you must wear Islamically modest cloths to perform Tawaf. butif you are performing tawaf as a part of umrah then, men must be in ihram cloths.

Take ablution

Majority of the scholars agree that the tawaf should be performed with the state of ablution (wudu). So, make Wudu.

Al-idh’tiba

Let us prepare our self before tawaf. If you are a male and wearing ihram, you must open your right shoulder which is called Al-idh’tiba. Please do not wear shoes. A woman may wear socks.

Niyyat

Keep Niyyat for tawaf. It is it essential for any act of worship.

A pilgrim should stand facing Hajarul Aswad in such a way that the entire Hajarul Aswad remains to his right, that is a little before the wide strip of black stone on the floor of Masjidul Haraam in front of Hajarul Aswad. Standing a little away from this black strip, he should form Niyyah, in the words given as under:

The Niyyat goes like this.

Allahumma inni uridu tawafa baithakal haram tawafal umrati lillahi ta'ala

Allahumma inni uridu tawafa baithakal haram tawafal umrati lillahi ta'ala

Istilam at Hajr al Aswad corner

How do you start tawaf? You start your tawaf with an Istilam. Istilam is an act of kissing the Hajr al Aswad. Or touching it. But if you are far and can’t reach it, you may point at Hajr al Aswad and say Bismillahi Allahu Akbar Walillahil hamd.

Bismillahi Allahu akbar walillahil hamd - In the name of God the greatest, and to all praise belongs Allah.

Hajr al Aswad is perfumed frequently. So, If you are in the state of ihram, please do not attempt to touch it. You may get your hands to contact with perfume.

Start round one Ramal

After Istilam, start walking around to finish your round. Men must brisk walk in the first three rounds. You may do dhikr or recite any dua during your tawaf.

Istilam at Yamani Corner

When you reach the Yemeni corner, it is a sunnah to touch the Yemeni corner. But if it is very crowdy, you may continue to walk towards the Hajr al Aswad corner. Recite "rabbana atina fidunya hasanathaw wa fil akhiroti hasanathaw waqina 'adzabannaar"

rabbana atina fidunya hasanathaw wa fil akhiroti hasanathaw waqina 'adzabannaar- “Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”

Finish round one.

Once you are done with the round 1, Do Istilam and start your second round.

Complete seven rounds in total like above. complete tawaf with an istilam. Men, Brisk only on first three rounds. Once your tawaf is completed, men in ihram clothes can cover the right shoulder.

After tawaf prayers and dua Multazam

Go near Multazam and ask for your dua. It is said to be one of the places where duas are accepted. If your tawaf is a part of an umrah, you have to perform two rakats of nafl behind Makaamu Ibrahim.

Duas during tawaf

You can recite any dua during your tawaf. But during Istilam say Bismillahi Allahu akbar Walillahi Hamd. when you reach Yemani Corner, say rabbana aatha fidunya

Apart from this you may recites any Dua you like. You can also recite dhikr.

Interruption of tawaf

Your tawaf can get interrupted if your ablution breaks or if an Adhaan is called for prayers. Incase if your tawaf gets interrupted you may continue your tawaf from the round you stopped. For example, if your tawaf stopped at round 4, finish 4th round. And then you can complete 5 6 and 7. You don’t have to start all over again. If you get tired during your Tawaf, you may rest and continue.

Tawaf for the Sick and Disable

If you are sick, aged or having difficulties in walking, you are allowed to get assistance to complete your umrah. Assistance can be in in the form of someone physically carrying you, assisting you with a wheelchair, riding on an animal or using any permissible vehicle. Permissible vehicle may be electrically assisted wheelchair, Air wheel, Solo wheel, hoverboard, mini-segway, other balance wheel types.

hadeeth on tawaf

The Prophet ﷺ says:

Circumambulation of the House, going between as-Safa and al-Marwah, and stoning of the Jamaraat were only ordained in order to establish the remembrance of Allah.

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 rose except that Allah removes a sin from him and records a good merit for him.

Tawaf around the House is similar to Salat except that you talk during it. So whoever talks in it, then let him not say but good.

Circling around the House is similar to prayer, except that you speak during it. Whoever speaks during it, let him speak nothing but goodness.”

Whoever circles the Ka’bah seven times and prays two cycles will be rewarded as if he has freed a slave. A man does not raise his foot and bring it back down but that ten good deeds will be written for him, ten bad deeds will be erased, and he will be raised by ten degrees.

Touching them erases sins.

Narrated / Authority Of: Ibn Abbas
The Prophet performed Tawaf of the Kaaba while riding a camel, and whenever he came in front of the Corner, he pointed towards it (with something).

Narrated / Authority Of: Abdullah bin Umar
When Allah's Apostle performed Tawaf of the Kaaba for Hajj or 'Umra, he used to do Ramal during the first three rounds, and in the last four rounds he used to walk; then after the Tawaf he used to offer two Rakat and then performed Tawaf between Safa and Marwa.

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and his Companions performed umrah from al-Ji'ranah. They went quickly round the House (the Ka'bah) moving their shoulders) proudly. They put their upper garments under their armpits and threw the ends over their left shoulders.

Read more hadith on umrah

references

https://sunnah.com/abudawud/11/164

https://sunnah.com/abudawud/11/166

(ﷺ)- (salallahu Alai wasallam)- May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him
رضي الله عنه (Radhiallahu’ Anhu) - May Allah be pleased with him
عليه السلام (Alaihi Salam) - Peace be upon him

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