Types of Tawaf

The word Tawaf is Arabic word which means “circling”. Tawaf is referred as a gesture performed by circling around the Kabah Shareef. Going around the Kabah in circles seven times in a definite manner ending with a prayer is referred as Tawaf. Tawaf is an obligatory ritual performed at the time of performance of Hajj and Umrah both. Ibn Abbas narrated that Holy Prophet Muhammad SAWW said that;

“Every day Almighty descends a hundred and twenty folds of his mercy to his slaves who perform Hajj. Sixty folds of these are specified for people performing Tawaf, forty fold for the one who pray there and twenty for those who took at the Kabah.”

 Tawaf is done by standing before the indicator line and do not crossing the line. One thing should be noted that Tawaf will always be done in a clockwise direction. In order to do that, one has to stand with the pilgrim’s right side facing Kabah. The Talbiyah or saying Labbaik that a pilgrim was doing before starting Tawaf should be stopped at the time when one began doing Tawaf.  Pilgrims must remove the clothing from their right shoulder and bring it under the armpit to put over the left shoulder. The right shoulder should be opened only when you are in Ihram. The position of a pilgrim is known as Izhthifa. The most important in doing Tawaf is his or her intentions. The pilgrims must think like;

 “O Almighty! I am doing my Tawaf of seven rounds around Baitullah. With your kindness, make it easier for me and accept my Tawaf.”

Touching of Black Stone:

The touching of Black Stone is a necessary ritual during the performance of Hajj and Umrah. Black Stone is known as the Stone form Jannah and it is believed that the color of this Stone was initially white but due to the sins of its touchers the stone eventually gets black. Black Stone should be touch by the ones performing Hajj or Umrah. The process of turning towards Hajra Ul Aswad and touching it by both of your hands and kissing it without making sound is a notorious part of the obligation. If one cannot reach to the Black Stone then pushing others and making your way in that manner is not appropriate. One should patiently wait for the turn or if it seems to be impossible then pilgrim can also make sign of touching it from a distance as through you are touching it and then kiss your hands. The process of making a sign of touching Black stone from far away is known as Isthilam. Isthilam or practically touching Hajra Al Aswad after every round in seven rounds during Tawaf is mandatory on a pilgrim.   

Types of Tawaf:

There are seven types of Tawaf and all of them are performed by the pilgrims. They are:

·         Tawaf Qudoom:

“Qudoom” is Arabic word meaning “arrival”. The Tawaf is said to be Tawaf Qudoom because it is performed when the pilgrims first arrived at the Kabah Shareef. During the performance of Tawaf Qudoom, the pilgrims have to wear Ihram and Idtiba and Raml are observed also. The Tawaf is similar in its performance to that of Tawaf al Umrah but the difference between the two is of intentions.

·         Tawaf Nazr:

Tawaf Nazr is Wajib or mandatory on those who make a promise or Nazr that they will perform Tawaf. This type of Tawaf is necessary to perform if one makes promise to perform it.

·         Tawaf Ziyaarat:

 ziyarat is Arabic word meaning “to see”. This Tawaf is also known as Tawaf al Ifadah. It is done after the standing in Arafat. The Tawaf Ziyaarat is performed at the day of Eid ul Adha and is one of the essential ritual among the other rituals performed at the time of Hajj. The Tawaf is necessary at the time of performance of Hajj and without it the Hajj would not be valid or completed.

·         Tawaf Umrah:

as the name is suggesting, this Tawaf is made at the time of performance of Umrah.

·         Tawaf Sadr:

Tawaf Sadr is also called Tawaf Rukhsat or Tawaf Wadaa. This type of Tawaf is Wajib. The time to perform Tawaf Sadr starts after the Tawaf Ziyarah and there is no end time for this, you can perform it any time after Tawaf Ziyarah. However it is Afdhal to perform it while leaving Makkah.

·         Tawaf Tahiyaah:

This type of Tawaf is commendable or Mustahab for the pilgrims who enter Masjid Haram.

·         Tawaf Nafl:

Also known as voluntary Tawaf. Each one of these tawafs must contain seven rounds, after which the pilgrim endeavors tow units behind Maqaam e Ibrahim if it is convenient for the performer. If it is not easy for the pilgrim, then he may offer the prayer in any other part of the mosque. Nafl Tawaf can also be performed for other people, for the one who are disable or are not able to perform the holy journey on their own due to some genuine Shari reason.

·         Tawaf Al Wida:

The word Wida means “farewell”. The Tawaf is said to be Wida Tawaf because it is performed after completing the other rituals of Hajj and when one has decided to leave the Holy city Makkah. The performance of this Tawaf is mandatory because it is sort of paying an honored goodbye to the Allah Almighty, to his Prophet Muhammad SAWW and also to the sacred city Makkah Mukarrama. Except of some conditions the performance of Tawaf al Wida is Wajib on each and every pilgrim who has visited Kabah.