What is Tawaf? – A Complete guide of Tawaf around Kabba

Tawaf, a process of completing seven rounds around Holy Kabah is the most important rite of Hajj. If you are monetarily stable enough to bear the expenses of Hajj and are planning to perform it, you must know about its basic rites. The most important one is Tawaf. One shows his presence in the House of Allah while performing this sacred rite.

What is meant by Tawaf?

Tawaf means to walk around something or to encircle a thing. According to Islamic point of view, it means to circle Kabah, House of Allah. Muslims need to complete seven rounds around Kaaba in the anti-clockwise direction wearing the simple white dresses called Ihram.

What are the preparations for Tawaf?

One must get properly prepared before starting this hallowed worship. Attaining the physical purification with pure intentions is the first step in its preparation. Specific dressing told by our Prophet is compulsory to assume. This dress is called Ihram. Without entering the state of Ihram, one cannot be eligible to perform the rites of Hajj or to perform Tawaf of Holy Kabah. Take bath properly and remove all the impurities before wearing this dressing.

What are the starting and ending points while performing Tawaf?

You must be familiar with the starting and ending point of Tawaf because you will have to complete the seven rounds. طواف starts from the line of Black Stone and ends at the same point after completing seven rounds. Count the rounds turn by turn because if you miss one round, your Tawaf will remain incomplete and as a result your Hajj will not be completed. Way of performing طواف is same for both, Hajj and Umrah.

What is the importance of Tawaf and why is it important?

Tawaf holds great significance among all the rites of Hajj. Muslims gather from all the parts of world and circulate the Kabah to represent the single Allah. Kaaba is the center of worship for Muslims as it is the House of Almighty Allah and Muslims have been ordered to do face towards Holy Kabah while offering prayers five times a day.

Here some points have been made to explain the importance of Tawaf around Kaaba:

• Tawaf depicts the solar system as heavenly bodies in universe are in continuous motion and circulation. Everything in this universe is involved in the process of circulation.
• طواف is the presence of Muslims in the Hose of Allah.
• Gathering of Muslim Ummah at the central point, shows that Muslims worship one Allah.
• Circulation around single Kaaba makes Muslims united. It also develops the feelings of love as everyone is advised to cooperate with one another.
• Tawaf is the act of angels as seventy thousand angles perform طواف of Holy Kabah each day. A new group of angels performs طواف every day.
• Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Muhammad also performed Tawaf around Kaaba.
• Kissing the Black Stone also holds significance as our Holy Prophet kissed the Black Stone placed in the corner of Kaaba. It washes away all the past sins.

What is the reason of performing Tawaf seven times?

Allah has not revealed all the secrets to Muslims because He only orders to perform certain tasks and provides reward for those tasks. Muslims act upon whatever Prophet Muhammad has ordered and taught them as they believe in Allah and His Prophet.

Muslims are unable to know the reason why Tawaf is performed seven times. But one thing comes into notice that digit seven has been repeated in everyday life.

• There are seven days in a week.
• There are seven doors of Hell.
• Hazrat Hajra ran between Safa and Marwa and found the water when seven rounds were completed.
• Sa’eey is also completed after running seven times between Safa and Marwa.
• Number of skies is seven.
• There are seven seas in the world.
• First Surah of Holy Quran named Surah Fatiha consists of seven verses.
• Most of the people explain that digit seven means perfection, purification and completeness. It means completeness as the creation of this universe was completed on the 7th day and طواف also ends at 7th round.

These points depict the importance of digit 7 in Islam. Allah knows the reason why He has preferred digit 7 for the completion of Tawaf and Sa’eey.

Supplications while performing Tawaf:

Pilgrims are required to remain busy in doing Zikr or making supplications. These supplications help the Muslims to attain the state of perfection and purification. This is the occasion when the chances of acceptance of supplications are increased because you are the guest of Allah at that time. Ask for the welfare in this world and the world hereafter. Show your presence in the loud voice. Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik is the voice that we mostly listen from pilgrims performing Hajj. In this way the show their presence in front of Allah.

How many types of Tawaf:

A person can perform Tawaf even he is not on Hajj or Umrah journey. It is not obligatory to perform it only during Hajj or Umrah but it can be performed at any time. طواف has been divided into five types. These are:

1. Tawaf Al-Qudum
2. طواف Al-Umrah
3. Tawaf Al-Ziyarah or Tawaf-al-Ifada
4. Tawaf Al-Widaa
5. Nafl طواف

These five types of طواف are performed at different occasions. Here are the details of these five types of Tawaf:

1) Tawaf Al-Qudum:

Pilgrims who are going to perform Hajj al Qiran or Hajj al Ifrad are obliged to perform this kind of طواف. It is also called as Tawaf of arrival as it is performed after arrival in Makkah. Muslims show their presence for the Hajj al Qiran or Hajj al Ifrad by performing this type of طواف.

There is a restriction regarding this kind of طواف that it must be performed before the day of Arafat that lies on 9th of Dhu al Hajjah.

2) Tawaf Al-Umrah:

It is the kind of Tawaf performed by those who go to perform Umrah alone or go to perform Hajj Al Tamattu. In Hajj Tamattu pilgrims wear Ihram and perform طواف of Holy Kaaba and complete their Umrah before 8th of Dhu Al Hijjah. Perform Sa’eey and also Halq before starting the rites of Hajj. It is called as Tawaf al Umrah.

3) Tawaf Al-Ziyarah or Tawaf-al-Ifada:

Tawaf al Ziyarah is performed on the 10th of Dhu al Hajjah before departure for stoning the Devil at Mina. It is also called as طواف al Ifada. It is performed after pilgrims get their heads shaved (Halq) and also remove their Ihram. It can be performed in ordinary clothing.

4) Tawaf Al-Widaa:

Tawaf al Wida is performed by those who perform Hajj Ifrad, Hajj Qiran or Hajj Tamattu. It is performed before leaving the holy land of Makkah when all the rites of Hajj are completed.
This type of طواف can also be performed in ordinary dressing.

5) Nafl Tawaf:

Anyone (amongst Muslims) can perform Nafl Tawaf at any time. It can be carried out the local citizens of Makkah to enjoy the blessings of طواف. Most of the people perform Nafl طواف and after performing two rakahs at Maqam-e-Ibrahim go to drink Zamzam water. They also fill bottles of Zamzam water.

History of Tawaf:

Prophet Ibrahim performed Tawaf of Holy Kabah for the very first time with his son after completing the construction of this hallowed cubic structure building. He also offered two rakahs of Nawafil with his son. That place is known as Maqam e Ibrahim.

Later, people forgot the teachings of Prophet Ibrahim and used to perform Tawaf with naked body as every on know What is Tawaf. They used to take off their clothes before starting طواف as they considered these clothes impure because they disobeyed Allah while they were wearing these clothes.

Ihram clothing while performing Tawaf of Holy Kabah:

Prophet Muhammad ordered to wear the Ihram dressing for Hajj and Umrah. He ended the ignorance of people by saying that Allah orders to cover private parts of your body while visiting any mosque. Kabah is the House of Allah, so one should wear proper dresses for طواف.

Hazrat Muhammad (ﷺ) performed his farewell dress in Ihram clothing and asked people to assume the state of Ihram while visiting the House of Allah. Color for Ihram clothing should be white as it is the color of simplicity and humility. All the Muslims wear same dresses showing that they believe in one Allah and worship only single Allah following the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Last Prophet).

Kissing the Black Stone while performing Tawaf:

Black Stone, most commonly known as the stone taken from Jannah is placed in the Easter corner of Holy Kabah. Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) kissed it saying that one who kisses this holy stone is forgiven. All the pilgrims kiss this stone. That stone is not more than a stone but, most of the people kiss it as our Prophet kissed it. During the days of Hajj, there is a great rush of people around Holy Kabah and you may not get a place to kiss the Black Stone. In that case, point your hands in the direction of Black Stone and suppose kissing it.

You should make confirm that you fulfill all the purity requirements while performing طواف as it is the most blessed act.