Question
A person performed the farewell Tawaf in the morning, then slept to rest, and afterwards intended to travel at the time of Asr. Is it obligatory for him to perform the farewell Tawaf again?
Answer
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
If a person performs the farewell Tawaf after completing Umrah or Hajj, and then remains in Makkah for some more time (as the person mentioned did, who slept after the farewell Tawaf and then intended to depart after Asr), then it is obligatory for him to perform the farewell Tawaf again. The basis for this is the following hadith of the Prophet ﷺ:
«لَايَنْفِرَّ أَحَدٌ حَتَّی يَکُوْنَ آخِرُ عَهْدِهِ بِالْبِيْتِ»
“No one should depart until his last time is spent at the House.”
This statement of the Prophet ﷺ was given at the time of Hajjat al-Wada’, and from that time the obligation of the farewell Tawaf began.
The Status of the Farewell Tawaf in Umrah
Some people argue that since the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed Umrah before Hajjat al-Wada’, but performing the farewell Tawaf at that time is not established, therefore the farewell Tawaf is not necessary in Umrah. However, this argument is not correct, because the farewell Tawaf was made obligatory only at that time when Hajjat al-Wada’ took place, and before that it was not obligatory.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«اِصْنَعْ فِی عُمْرَتِکَ مَا أَنْتَ صَانِعٌ فِی حَجِّکَ»
“Act in your Umrah just as you act in your Hajj.”
This command is general. Although acts such as standing at Arafah, spending the night in Mina, and the stoning (rami) are specific to Hajj, in other acts this command also applies to Umrah.
Calling Umrah “Hajj Asghar”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also referred to Umrah by the title “Hajj Asghar”, as in the long and well-known hadith of ‘Amr ibn Hazm (may Allah be pleased with him):
The scholars have accepted this hadith as acceptable, although it is a mursal narration. Because the scholars accepted it, this hadith is considered to be at the level of sahih.
Evidence from the Quran
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَأَتِمُّوا الحَجَّ وَالعُمرَةَ لِلَّهِ﴾
“And complete the Hajj and the Umrah for Allah.”
If the farewell Tawaf is considered part of the completion of Hajj, then it will also be necessary for the completion of Umrah.
Similarly, when a person enters the Masjid al-Haram by means of Tawaf, he should also take leave of the mosque by Tawaf when returning.
Mention of a Da’if Hadith
In another hadith it is said:
«اذا حج الرجلَ أَوِ اعتمر فلا يخرجَ حتی يکون آخر عهده بالبيت»
“Whoever performs Hajj or Umrah to this House, let his last time be spent at the House before he returns.”
However, this narration is da’if because Hajjaj ibn Artah is present in its chain, who is a weak narrator. If this hadith were sahih, it would have become a definitive text on this matter. Nevertheless, since it is a weak narration, it cannot be acted upon.
Principled Evidence and Caution
The principled evidences mentioned above support the view that the farewell Tawaf is obligatory in Umrah as well. And caution also demands that the farewell Tawaf be performed.
✿ If a person performs the farewell Tawaf, then he will not be in error according to any jurisprudential opinion.
✿ But if someone does not perform the farewell Tawaf, then he will be in error according to those scholars who hold it to be obligatory.
✿ Therefore, the farewell Tawaf is correct in every case, while the one who omits it is blameworthy according to some scholars.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is my opinion, and Allah knows best what is correct.)
