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Rules and Etiquette of Tawaf

 

The declaration of intent (Niyat) is compulsory for Tawaf. It one circled Ka`abah without intent, it will not be considered as lawful Tawaf.

In Umrah a pilgrim has to perform Saee also after the Tawaf, therefore, he should keep his right shoulder open in all the seven circuits of Tawaf. This act of keeping the right shoulder open in Tawaf is known as Iztiba. However, for offering two Units prayer after Tawaf one should cover the right shoulder. It is undesirable (Makrooh) to pray with open shoulder.

Iztiba is a tradition in Tawaf only. It is not required in Saee.

Those who intent to go round the House of God (Tawaf) for Umrah, they should move a little faster than the normal walk in fast three rounds. He should keep shoulder high and put step little closer. This is known as “Ramal”.

Talking irrelevant or doing any worldly deal etc in Tawaf is disallowed. However one can ask or tell any religious question or information.

 Reciting verses from Holy Quran as a matter of invocation during Tawaf in loud voice is prohibited. It may be a source of disturbance for other pilgrims around.

One should not try to hold or suppress the call of nature or urine during Tawaf.

If one finds it difficult to kiss the Black Stone (Hajar-e-Aswad) due to crowd then he should touch it with both hand and later kiss the fingers and palms. Even if that is not possible due to milling crowed, on can raise his hands up to ears and then extend the hands towards the Black Stone with palms facing the stone then kiss the palms afterward.

It has been observed that some people smear the Black Stone with perfume / scent. Since perfume is prohibited for one who is in Ihram, he should avoid to kiss or touch the stone rather should extend his hands only with open palms towards stone. This action is known as “Istilam”.

It is prohibited to kiss any part of Ka`abah except the Black Stone or the door sill of Ka`abah (the Multazim). Touching the Rukun-e-Yamani only by hand is allowed. If one can not touch the Rukun-e-Yamani then he should not point towards it.

While circling Ka`abah it is prohibited to keep face towards it or keeping the chest or back towards it.

During Umrah Tawaf one has to move a little faster than normal walk in first three circles, known as Ramal. If the crowd does not permit fast movement, one should wait for thinning of crowd to perform Tawaf with Ramal.

  1. If one started Tawaf with Ramal but suddenly due to growth of crowd he could not keep circling with Ramal, he can give up Ramal but complete the Tawaf.

If one forgot to do Ramal in first or second circle but later came to realize then he should observe Ramal in second or third circle then he should forego the Ramal in the remaining circles.

While performing Tawaf of Umrah, if one falls in doubt about the number of circuits executed it is better to perform an extra circuits.

  1. Tawaf can be equally performed on the first or second floor of Masjid-e-Haram.

Nowadays it has become common that ladies do perform Tawaf with their men, sometimes in objectionable state of cloths such as with open parts of the body particularly hands and feet. These parts come in touch with other people or men’s gaze fall on them. This becomes a cause of apprehension among pious people. According to Shafai school such contacts demand fresh ablution. While according to Hanafi school, Tawaf remains valid but with disapproval (Makrooh)

Some pilgrims in their endeavour to perform more numbers of Tawaf in the available time run fast pushing other worshipers. This is incorrect. They should carry out their Tawaf with patience without hurting or pushing others.

It has been noticed that some pilgrims while performing Tawaf-e-Ziarat on first or second floor of the sacred mosque inadvertently slip into the area reserved for Saee. Tawaf into the Saee area is not allowed. Tawaf is to be carried out only in Mutaf, the place reserved for it, come whatever the crowd strength.

  1. For pilgrims coming from distant places (Afaqi) it is preferable to perform optional Tawaf instead of offering optional prayers.
Tawaf of the House of God has some preference over Umrah, provided one give all that time to be spent in Umrah, in performing Tawaf.

 

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Kinds of Hajj

Journey to Madinah

The Hajj

Umrah

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