❖ Tawaf of the Ka'bah and Performing ʿUmrah from Taneem – Explanation in Light of Shari'ah
Source: Fatāwā ʿIlmiyyah, Volume 3 – Miscellaneous Issues, Page 285
❖ Question
If a person performing Hajj spends his free time doing Tawaf of the Ka'bah, is this act commendable? Also, some people go to Miqat, wear Ihram, and perform ʿUmrah on behalf of themselves or their parents or relatives. What is the ruling on this? Kindly explain in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
(Question by: Muhammad Fayaz Damanwi, Bradford, England)
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"إِنَّمَا الطَّوَافُ صَلَاةٌ، فَإِذَا طُفْتُمْ، فَأَقِلُّوا الْكَلَامَ"
“Tawaf is [like] prayer, so when you perform Tawaf, speak little.”
(Musnad Aḥmad 3/414, Ḥadīth 5423 – Chain is Ṣaḥīḥ)
Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه said:
"Speak little during Tawaf, for you are in a state of prayer."
(Sunan al-Nasāʾī: 2926 – Chain is Ṣaḥīḥ Mawqūf)
❖ Clarification Regarding Tawaf
◈ Tawaf of the Kaʿbah holds the status of prayer. This sacred act of worship is exclusive to Makkah.
◈ A pilgrim (either performing Hajj or ʿUmrah) should, after completing his rituals, spend as much time as possible in the precincts of the Kaʿbah.
◈ After entering Masjid al-Ḥarām, and offering the Ṭaḥiyyat al-Masjid (two Rakʿahs of greeting the mosque), one should engage in Tawaf as much as possible.
◈ If one becomes tired, they should sit and engage in Qur’ān recitation or Dhikr.
❖ Issue of Performing ʿUmrah from Miqat or Taneem
◈ The commonly practiced ʿUmrah from Taneem (Masjid ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها) is based on the Hadith related to Sayyidah ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها.
◈ However, this deduction requires scrutiny, and the matter calls for careful consideration.
◈ It is preferable to perform ʿUmrah from the original Miqat rather than from Taneem.
◈ Except for women in the state of menstruation, others should not perform ʿUmrah from Taneem.
◈ This is also the position of the sound scholars from Makkah who follow correct ʿAqīdah.
◈ And Allah knows best.
❖ Two Additional Rulings Derived from the Above Hadith
➊ Speech is not permissible in prayer.
➋ In Tawaf, only essential speech is permissible.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
