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.
