Tawaf

Starting from the line of Hajar al-Aswad, circumambulating the Ka’bah seven times is called tawaf. Each one of these turns is called a "shawt." The verse of “Then let them perform tawaf around the ancient House (Bayt al-Atiq)” (Hajj, 22/29) states that it is a divine order by Allah (swt) and it must be performed around the Ka’bah.

Upon the arrival to Ka’bah, the people who intend to perform hajj ifrad exercise tawaf qudum,  the people who intend to perform hajj tamattu and hajj qiran establish umrah tawaf. After this, they keep making tawafs as a supererogatory (nafilah) worship when they have the opportunity. They make the tawaf ziyarah after the Waqfat al-Arafat, then they establish the farewell (wada) tawaf before completing their hajj and leaving Mecca.

The person to establish tawaf must have wudu and should perform the tawaf by on foot, as long as he can. One starts tawaf by making niyyah and the niyyah has to be established before one reaches the line of Hajar al-Aswad (the Black Stone) The Black Stone is the starting point of tawaf. It is narrated that the black stone descended from the Paradise, and it was more white than milk, then it was blackened by the sins of the children of Adam. (Tirmidhi, Hajj, 49) It is stated that Allah (swt) will raise it on the Day of Resurrection with two eyes by which it sees and a tongue that it speaks with, testifying to whoever touched it in truth.  (Tirmidhi, Hajj, 113)

Believers gesture towards the Black Stone (istilam) both before starting the rite of tawaf and at the beginning of each shawt. The Messenger of Allah (swt) would kiss the Hajar al-Aswad when he had the opportunity, otherwise he would give it a salaam from afar and start his tawaf. (Bukhari, Hajj, 48, 60) He also warned the companions to not get into the crowd to kiss the Black Stone as it may disturb others. (Ibn Hanbal, I, 28) Today, the confluence observed at the corner of the Black Stone shows how important is this warning of Messenger of Allah (swt). What matters here is to act in accordance with Prophet Muhammad's (swt) sunnah, not the stone. In this respect, Abu Bakr’s greeting of the stone with the following words also clarifies this reality. “I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit nor harm. Had I not seen the Prophet (saw) touching (and kissing) you, I would never have touched (and kissed) you.” (Bukhari, Hajj, 57) 

The believer greets the Black Stone and renews his promise of worship and faith to Allah (swt) and he starts his tawaf. He takes the Ka’bah to his left side and feels that the Ka’bah is integrated with his heart, and physically circumambulates the Ka’bah by feeling spiritually close to Allah (swt). 

Tawaf is the sajdah (prostration) of the heart, the mi’raj of the soul, the meaning of existence!

Tawaf is a kind of prayer. Prophet Muhammad (saw) said; “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.” (Tirmidhi, Hajj, 112) Therefore a believer should behave respectfully while performing tawaf with the awareness that he is in the presence of Allah (swt) like in the prayer and avoid the words and actions that do not fit in the spirit of the tawaf. He should spend every moment of the tawaf with the prayer, dhikr, tasbih, and tahlil. He must try to comprehend that each turn is the exaltation of the soul from matter to meaning, from the earthly to ethereal (uhrawi).  

Tawaf is to revolve. Revolving is the common act of the universe. The Pilgrim enthusiastically engages in this revolving action that is observed at every moment from atoms to galaxies and joins the glorification (tasbihat) of the being. 

Entering tawaf means diving into the sea of mercy. It means to be a drop in the sea and diving  into the ocean of humanity. Pilgrims watch the reflection of the unity in the multitude during the tawaf. Millions of Muslims from different colors, races, languages, and cultures virtually become one. Therefore, with the awareness of being brothers and sisters, believers should respect each other as they respect the Ka’bah and they should avoid hurting, disturbing, or rude behaviors. In this respect Prophet Muhammad (saw) stated during his tawaf; “How good you are and how good your fragrance! How great you are and how great your sanctity! By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad, the sanctity of the believer is greater before Allah than your sanctity, his blood and his wealth, and to think anything but good of him. (Ibn Majah, Fitan, 2) 

"In it (Ka’bah) are clear signs [such as] the standing place of Abraham." (Ali Imran, 3/97) “And take, [O believers], from the standing place of Ibrahim a place of prayer.” (Baqarah, 2/125) According to the verse, it is advised to establish the prayer after the tawaf around the standing place of Ibrahim, if it is possible. Prophet Muhammad (saw) recited Kafirun and Ihlas surahs and established two rak'ahs of tawaf prayer here. (Muslim, Hajj, 147)

Maqam Ibrahim (the standing place of Prophet Ibrahim) is a stone with a footprint on it that is believed to be used by Prophet Ibrahim as a scaffolding during the construction of the Ka’bah or later on to invite people to perform hajj. Today, when the confluence observed during tawaf is taken into consideration, it would not be appropriate to try to establish prayer in the standing place of the Prophet Ibrahim as this place is also within the tawaf area.   

The standing place of Prophet Ibrahim is a great symbol beyond being a stone. Believers should seek the truth that the feet represent, not the print of the Prophet Ibrahim’s feet on the stone. Prophet Ibrahim’s standing place is a place of surrender and obedience. It is an expression of obeying Allah's (swt) command without any objection. When Prophet Ibrahim was asked to bring his wife and child to this isolated desert and to sacrifice his child, to build the Baitullah when it is time, and to call people to perform hajj when the construction finished, he fulfilled all these orders without objection. Believer should take the surrender and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim as an example to himself at the standing place of Ibrahim. 

After the tawaf prayer, believers go to the Safa Hill to perform sa’i.