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The word Tawwaf has been derived from the Arabic word ‘Taafa, which means ‘to encircle something.’ In the context of Umra or Hajj, Tawwaf is the practice of performing seven anti-clockwise circuits of the Ka’abah. While there are five different types of Tawwaf, we’ll discuss Tawwaf Al-Umra, which forms a necessary part of Umra.
To complete Tawwaf, it is necessary to be clean of any impurities and to have performed wudhu. If wudhu is lost during Tawwaf, it must be redone and the Tawwaf resumed from the point it was interrupted. When performing Tawaf, one must be wearing the Ihram attire which must be pure and clean. For men, the Ihram clothing must cover the area from the navel to the knees, while for women, the Ihram must cover the entire body except for the hands and face.
Entering Makkah
The Haram of Makkah is a sacred area that extends a number of miles around Masjid al-Haram in all directions. In this area, it is forbidden to:
Although you’re unlikely to breach one of these rules, keep in mind the sanctity of Makkah. As you reach the limits of the Haram, constantly recite the Talbiyah, do Dhikr and send Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ. Recital of the following Dua is recommended upon entering the Haram:
اَللَّهُمَّ هَذَا حَرَمُكَ وَأَمْنُكَ فَحَرِّمْنِي عَلَى النَّارِ، وَأَمِنِّي مِنْ عَذَابِكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ، وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِكَ وَأَهْلِ طَاعَتِكَ.
Allāhumma hādhā ḥaramuka wa amnuka fa ḥarrimnī ‘ala-n-Nār, wa amminnī min ‘adhābika yawma tab’athu ‘ibādak, wa j‘alnī min awliyā’ika wa ahli ṭā’atik.
Allah, this is Your sanctuary and security, so make me unlawful to Hell-Fire, make me safe from Your punishment on the day You resurrect Your servants; and make me one of Your friends and one of the people who obey You.
When entering Masjid al-Haram, it is recommended to go through Bab al-Salam (the Gate of Peace) with your right foot first and recite a prayer for entering a mosque. Two different prayers can be used for this purpose:
.بِسْمِ اللهِ، اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ. اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَافْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِك
Bismi-llāh, Allāhumma ṣalli alā Muhammad. Allāhumma-ghfir lī wa-ftaḥ lī abwāba raḥmatik.
In the name of Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad ﷺ. O Allah, open for me the doors of Your Bounty.
أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ الْعَظِيمِ، وَبِوَجْهِهِ الْكَرِيمِ، وَسُلْطَانِهِ الْقَدِيمِ، مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
A‘ūdhu bi-llāhi-l-Aẓīm, wa bi-wajhihi-l-karīm, wa sulṭānihi-l-qadīm, mina-sh-Shayṭāni-r-rajīm.
I seek protection in Allah the Tremendous, His Noble Countenance, and His pre-eternal Sovereign Might from Shaytan the rejected.
Notes:
After entering the mosque, keep your gaze down until you reach the area for Tawaf, called the Mataf. Once there, look up at the Ka’abah with humility, awe, and reverence. When you see the Ka’abah for the first time, raise your hands and make sincere and focused supplications. It’s recommended to include sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ in your supplication, as prayer is known to be answered in this sacred place. The tradition states that Dua is suspended between heaven and earth and won’t be accepted until blessings are sent upon the Prophet. Recite the following three times:
.اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ. اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ . لَآ اِلَهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ
Allāhu akbar. Allāhu akbar. Lā ilāha illa-llāh.
Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. There is no God except Allah.
It’s a Sunnah to recite the following
Duas:
.اَللَّهُمَّ زِدْ أَهْلَ هَذَا الْبَيْتَ تَشْرِيفاً وَتَعْظِيماً وَتَكْرِيماً وَمَهَابَةً، وَزِدْ مَنْ شَرَّفَهُ وَكَرَّمَهُ مِمَّنْ حَجَّهُ أَوْ اعْتَمَرَهُ تَشْرِيفاً وَتَكْرِيماً وَتَعْظِيماً وَبِرّاً
Allāhumma zid hādhā-l-Bayta tashrīfan wa ta’ẓīman wa takrīman wa mahābah, wa zid man sharrafahu wa karramahu mimman ḥajjahu awi-’tamarahu tashrīfan wa takrīman wa ta’ẓīman wa birrā.
Allah, increase this House in honour, esteem, respect and reverence. And increase those who honour and respect it—of those who perform Hajj or ‘Umra—in honour, respect, esteem and piety.
اَللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلاَمُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ، حَيِّنَا رَبَّنَا بِالسَّلاَمِ.
Allāhumma Anta-s-Salāmu wa minka-s-salām, ḥayyinā Rabbanā bi-s-salām.
O Allah, You are Peace and from You is peace. Make us live, Lord, in peace.
Once you’re in Mataf, observe Idtiba, the uncovering of the right shoulder, as per the practice of Sunnah for Tawwaf Al-Umra. This can be easily done by passing the upper sheet of your Ihram under your right armpit and hanging it from the left shoulder. You should keep your right shoulder uncovered throughout the Tawwaf. The starting point for Tawwaf is the corner of the Ka’abah where Hajr Al-Aswad or the black stone is positioned. Stand facing the Ka’abah with the black stone on your right side. This is where you’ll make the niyyah to perform Tawwaf. Recite the following words to make the intention:
.اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أُرِيْدُ طَوَافَ بَيْتِكَ الْحَرَامِ فَيَسِّرْهُ لِيْ وَتَقَبَّلْهُ مِنِّيْ
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-ṭawwafa baytika l-ḥarāmi fa yassirhu lī wa taqabbalhu minnī.
O Allah, I intend to perform Tawaf of the Sacred Mosque, so accept it from me and make it easy for me.
Although kissing the Hajar al-Aswad is very virtuous, don’t harm others around you in an attempt to reach it.
Begin with Tawwaf
Start by facing the right direction and commence the first round of circumambulation, keeping the Ka’abah to your left. Move in a counter-clockwise direction and avoid passing through the Hijr Ismail. If you accidentally walk through it, the round will not be counted and will have to be repeated.
The following supplication, a Dua of Ali I, may be recited when coming parallel to the Hajar al-Aswad in each circuit:
سْمِ اللَّهِ وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُمَّ إِيْمَاناً بِكَ وَتَصْدِيْقاً بِكِتَابِكَ، وَوَفَاءً بِعَهْدِكَ، وَاتِّبَاعاً لِسُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدْ
Bismi llāhi wa llāhu akbar, Allāhumma īmānan bika wa taṣdīqan bi kitābika wa wafā’an bi ahdika wattibā’an li sunnati nabiyyika Muḥammadin ﷺ.
In the name of Allah, Allah is the greatest. O Allah, out of faith in You, conviction in Your book, in fulfilment of Your covenant and in emulation of Your Prophet’s Sunnah ﷺ.
In the first three rounds, men are recommended to perform Raml, which involves walking with a quick pace and lifting the legs forcefully while sticking out the chest. However, if the area is crowded, especially near the Ka’abah, only perform this Sunnah if you can do so without causing harm or inconvenience to others.
As you circumambulate, feel free to recite prayers and make supplications of your choice. This is an opportune moment for Dua, so make the most of it and remember Allah with sincerity and devotion. It is advised to not read from a Dua book, especially if you do not understand the Arabic language.
During the Tawwaf, it is a good opportunity to make supplications and duas as they are believed to be readily accepted. You can recite duas in Arabic or in your own language. However, it is recommended to memorize and recite the Arabic Sunnah duas during Tawwaf. It is important to understand and have humility while reciting the duas to enhance your prayer experience. A prescribed dua by Sunnah to recite between the Yamani corner and the Hajr Al-Aswad is:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbanā ātinā fi d-dunyā ḥasanatan wafi l-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ‘adhāba n-nār.
O our Lord, grant us the good of this world, the good of the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the fire.
[Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:201]
Once you have completed a circuit and return to Hajar al-Aswad, it signifies the end of one round. For the second circuit, repeat the process of Istilam on Hajar al-Aswad by saying “Allahu Akbar (اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ)”. You should say “Allahu Akbar” while doing Istilam in all seven subsequent circuits. In total, you will perform Istilam eight times during the Tawaf; one at the start and one at the end of each of the seven circuits.
After finishing the Tawaf, it is preferred to perform two units of prayer with Maqam Ibrahim between you and the Ka’abah. However, this can be challenging due to crowding in the Mataf area. If it’s not possible to pray in that spot, the prayer can be performed anywhere else in the mosque. On the way to the prayer location, it is recommended to recite the following audibly.
وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى
Wattakhidhu min maqāmi Ibrāhīma muṣalla.
And take the Maqam Ibrahim as a place of Salah.
[Surah al-Baqarah, 2:125]
It is Sunnah to recite Surah al-Kafirun (Qul Yā Ayyuha-l-Kāfirūn) in the first Rakah and Surah al-Ikhlas (Qul Huwa-llāhu Ahad) in the second, after Surah al-Fatiha. Make sure you make plenty of Dua after completing the prayer.
After performing the two Rakahs of Salah and making supplications to Allah, it is recommended to drink from the Zamzam water, which is available around the Tawwaf area and in various locations throughout Masjid al-Haram. The original well of Zamzam has been covered for more space during Tawaf. According to the Prophet Muhammad, the water of Zamzam has the power to fulfill one’s intentions for drinking it, whether for good health, worldly success, or protection in the afterlife. When drinking the water, it is recommended to stand facing the Kaaba, recite “Bismillah” before drinking, take a breath three times, and say “Alhamdulillah” after finishing. You can also rub the water on your face and body. After drinking the water, it is recommended to recite the following supplication:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا وَ رِزْقًا وَاسِعًا وَ شِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ
Allahumma innī as’aluka ‘ilman nāfi’an, wa rizqan wāsi’an, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbalan, wa shifā’an min kulli dā’.
O Allah, I ask You for knowledge that is beneficial, provision that is abundant and a cure from every illness.
Next Step: Sa’i.
