Are Specific Duas for Tawaf and Sa’i Proven from the Sunnah?
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
Are there any specific prescribed supplications for Tawaf, Sa’i, and the rites of Hajj?
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
There are no Shariah-prescribed specific duas for Tawaf, Sa’i, or other rites of Hajj and ʿUmrah. A pilgrim may supplicate with whatever he wishes.
However, if one recites the supplications authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ, that is best and most complete.
Between Rukn Yamani and Ḥajar al-Aswad, the Prophet ﷺ would recite:
رَبَّنَآ اٰتِنَا فِی الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَّ فِی الْاٰخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّ قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Ḥadīth: 1893)
“Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Fire.”
Similarly, on the Day of ʿArafah and at Ṣafā and Marwah, it is recommended to use the adhkār and duas authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ.
✿ Reciting Sunnah duas is best.
✿ If one does not know them, he may make personal supplications in his own words.
✿ These duas are not obligatory, but recommended.
Many pilgrims use printed booklets containing separate duas for each round of Tawaf. This is an innovation (bidʿah) for several reasons:
Booklets often include a “special dua” for Maqām Ibrāhīm, which is not established from the Prophet ﷺ.
When the Prophet ﷺ stood at Maqām Ibrāhīm, he recited the verse:
﴿وَاتَّخِذوا مِن مَقامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى﴾ (al-Baqarah: 125)
“And take the standing place of Ibrāhīm as a place of prayer.”
Then he prayed two rakʿahs behind it.
Reciting unproven supplications loudly there is wrong for two reasons:
➊ It is not from the Sunnah (thus a bidʿah).
➋ It disturbs those praying behind Maqām Ibrāhīm.
Many printed guides for Hajj and ʿUmrah contain numerous innovations regarding the form, timing, or location of acts of worship.
May Allah guide all Muslims to the Sunnah.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is my opinion, and Allah knows best what is correct.)
Source: Fatāwā Arkān al-Islām
Question
Are there any specific prescribed supplications for Tawaf, Sa’i, and the rites of Hajj?
Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
There are no Shariah-prescribed specific duas for Tawaf, Sa’i, or other rites of Hajj and ʿUmrah. A pilgrim may supplicate with whatever he wishes.
However, if one recites the supplications authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ, that is best and most complete.
Example of an Authentic Supplication
Between Rukn Yamani and Ḥajar al-Aswad, the Prophet ﷺ would recite:
رَبَّنَآ اٰتِنَا فِی الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَّ فِی الْاٰخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّ قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Ḥadīth: 1893)
“Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Fire.”
Similarly, on the Day of ʿArafah and at Ṣafā and Marwah, it is recommended to use the adhkār and duas authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ.
Method and Flexibility in Dua
✿ Reciting Sunnah duas is best.
✿ If one does not know them, he may make personal supplications in his own words.
✿ These duas are not obligatory, but recommended.
Booklets with Specific Duas for Each Circuit — An Innovation
Many pilgrims use printed booklets containing separate duas for each round of Tawaf. This is an innovation (bidʿah) for several reasons:
- Misconception — People believe these exact words are from the Prophet ﷺ and must be recited as such, often without understanding their meaning.
- Limitation — One dua is assigned per circuit; if the dua finishes before the round ends, people remain silent; if the circuit finishes before the dua ends, they stop abruptly — even if in the middle of a phrase like “Allāhumma…”.
Special Dua at Maqam Ibrahim — Not from the Prophet ﷺ
Booklets often include a “special dua” for Maqām Ibrāhīm, which is not established from the Prophet ﷺ.
When the Prophet ﷺ stood at Maqām Ibrāhīm, he recited the verse:
﴿وَاتَّخِذوا مِن مَقامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى﴾ (al-Baqarah: 125)
“And take the standing place of Ibrāhīm as a place of prayer.”
Then he prayed two rakʿahs behind it.
Reciting unproven supplications loudly there is wrong for two reasons:
➊ It is not from the Sunnah (thus a bidʿah).
➋ It disturbs those praying behind Maqām Ibrāhīm.
Problem with Printed Ritual Guides
Many printed guides for Hajj and ʿUmrah contain numerous innovations regarding the form, timing, or location of acts of worship.
May Allah guide all Muslims to the Sunnah.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
(This is my opinion, and Allah knows best what is correct.)
