Lesson — Learn Arabic & Islamic Studies

Lesson Content

Tawaf is seven circuits around the House, starting and ending at the Black Stone, with the Ka'bah on your left.

Know the House before you walk around it

Arabic	Place	What it is
الْحَجَرُ الْأَسْوَد	The Black Stone	The start and end of every circuit; a green light on the wall of the courtyard marks its line
الرُّكْنُ الْيَمَانِي	The Yemeni corner	The corner before the Black Stone; touched, not kissed
الْمُلْتَزَم	The Multazam	The wall between the door of the Ka'bah and the Black Stone
الْحَطِيم	The Hatim (Hijr)	The semicircular area next to the Ka'bah, part of its original foundations: walk outside it
مَقَامُ إِبْرَاهِيم	Maqam Ibrahim	The stone Ibrahim stood on while building the Ka'bah, in a glass structure

Class slides

Ibn 'Umar said: "I did not see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ touch anything of the House except the two Yemeni corners."Abu Dawud

Entering al-Masjid al-Haram

Enter with the right foot and say:

"Bismillah, was-salatu was-salamu 'ala rasulillah. Allahummaghfir li waftah li abwaba rahmatik. A'udhu billahil-'Azim, wa biwajhihil-Karim, wa bisultanihil-qadim, minash-shaytanir-rajim."Ibn 'Uthaymeen

Tawaf step by step

StartAt the Black Stone: touch it with the right hand and kiss it; if not possible, face it and point. Say "Bismillah, Allahu akbar"

WalkKeep the Ka'bah on your left, outside the Hatim

Yemeni cornerTouch it if possible, do not kiss it

Between the cornersRabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah...

Black Stone again"Allahu akbar" each time you pass it

Seven circuitsThen the two rak'ahs

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ"Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."al-Baqarah 2:201

In the rest of the Tawaf, there is no fixed du'a: make any du'a, dhikr or Qur'an recitation. Tawaf, Sa'y and stoning were prescribed for the remembrance of Allah (Ibn 'Uthaymeen).

'Umar kissed the Black Stone and said: "I know that you are only a stone that can neither harm nor benefit. Had I not seen the Messenger of Allah ﷺ kiss you, I would not have kissed you."al-Bukhari, Muslim

Do not push and crowd to reach the Stone, harming others and being harmed. Pointing is enough.

Two Sunnahs for men in the first Tawaf

Idtiba'

The middle of the rida' under the right arm, its ends over the left shoulder, uncovering the right shoulder: for the whole Tawaf only. Both shoulders are covered again afterwards, especially for prayer.

Raml

Walking briskly with short steps in the first three circuits; normal pace in the last four.

The conditions of Tawaf

PurityFrom hadath and najasah, with the 'awrah covered; Tawaf is like prayer, but speech is allowed

Inside the mosqueWithin al-Masjid al-Haram

House on the leftWith it on the right, the Tawaf is invalid

Seven circuitsFrom the Black Stone to the Black Stone

ContinuityNo long break between circuits

Two rak'ahsAfter it

Risalah

After the seven circuits

وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى"And take the station of Ibrahim as a place of prayer."al-Baqarah 2:125

Pray two short rak'ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim, as close as is convenient: al-Kafirun in the first, al-Ikhlas in the second. Then touch the Black Stone again if convenient, and drink Zamzam (Risalah).

Key points

Know the Black Stone, Yemeni corner, Multazam, Hatim and Maqam Ibrahim.
Start at the Black Stone, Ka'bah on the left, seven circuits, outside the Hatim.
Kiss, touch or point to the Black Stone; touch the Yemeni corner without kissing.
Men: idtiba' throughout, raml in the first three circuits.
Two rak'ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim (al-Kafirun, al-Ikhlas).

Video Lesson

Tawaf Around the Ka'bah