Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:

It is said that the initial ruling (fatwa) of Abdullah ibn Umar radi Allahu anhu regarding menstruating (ha’idha) and postpartum (nufasa’) women was that they should wait for the cessation of menstrual and postpartum bleeding, and after attaining purity, perform the farewell circumambulation (tawaf al-wada‘) before departing. However, when he became aware of this hadith of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he retracted from his previous position.

From this, it is established that the general practice of the noble Companions radi Allahu anhum was that, when faced with an authentic hadith, they would abandon their own opinions and retract from their previous positions. This is unlike the later rigid imitators (muqallidun jamidun), whose practice became such that, if an authentic hadith contradicted their supposed school of thought, they would brazenly reject it and, in every circumstance, give preference to the statement of their presumed imam.

The noble verse, “They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah” (: al-Tawbah: 31), in reality, refers to such people. Regarding them, Shah Waliullah Muhaddith rahimahullah has stated that those who reject authentic ahadith and give preference to the statement of their imam—what answer will they give on the Day when they are presented before the Divine Court?

(: Hujjat Allah al-Baligha)

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
When a person has completed the rites of Hajj, he should perform the Farewell Circumambulation (Tawaf al-Wada‘), and after that, he should depart for his home.
It is narrated from Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) that after completing the Hajj, people would return to their homes from wherever they wished.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) commanded that one should not return to his home until he has performed the circumambulation of the House (Bayt Allah).
(Sahih Muslim, al-Hajj, Hadith: 3219(1327))

(2)
In light of this hadith, the Farewell Circumambulation (Tawaf al-Wada‘) is obligatory (wajib). However, a concession has been granted to a menstruating woman (ha’idah) that she may return to her home without performing it, as will be clarified further ahead.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: The farewell circumambulation (tawaf al-wada‘), which the pilgrim performs at the time of departure from the sacred city of Makkah, is obligatory (wajib). That is, if a person does not perform this circumambulation, then it is necessary for him to offer the sacrifice of an animal. However, a menstruating woman is permitted—if she has already performed the tawaf al-ifadah—then she may depart without performing the farewell circumambulation. This is the position of the majority of the Companions and Imams: Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah, Imam Shafi‘i rahimahullah, Imam Ahmad rahimahullah, and the hadith scholars. However, according to Imam Malik rahimahullah and Dawud al-Zahiri rahimahullah, the farewell circumambulation is a Sunnah.

The Farewell Circumambulation (Tawaf al-Wada‘) of the Ka‘bah before Departing from Makkah

Abdullah ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhuma) reports that people would depart from (Makkah) from every direction, so the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “No one should depart from Makkah until his last act is the circumambulation of the House (Tawaf al-Wada‘).” [سنن ابي داود/كتاب المناسك /حدیث: 2002]

643 Benefit:
This is the Farewell Circumambulation (Tawaf al-Wada‘), which is performed upon the completion and conclusion of all the rites of Hajj. According to everyone except Imam Malik rahimahullah, this circumambulation is obligatory (wajib); if it is omitted for any reason, a compensatory sacrifice (dam — slaughtering an animal) must be offered. However, menstruating women are granted an exemption.

Benefit:
This hadith proves that pilgrims should return home after performing the farewell circumambulation (tawaf al-wada‘); however, a menstruating (ha’id) or postpartum bleeding (nufasa’) woman is exempt from this. Also, see [مسند حميدي : 512]