Tawaf - Understanding the Islamic Ritual of Circumambulation

Hajj and Umrah are Islamic requirements performed by Muslims all over the world. Hajj is conducted once a year, although Umrah can be undertaken at any time. Many individuals are perplexed by the various types of Tawaf and how to do it in both of them. 

Whether you are a new convert or a born Muslim wanting to undertake Hajj or Umrah, understanding the term 'Tawaf' is critical. You will be compelled to deliver Tawaf every time you go to Allah's abode for either a larger or smaller pilgrimage. You should thus take the time to study what it truly means, why it is vital, what its many sorts are, how it is executed, and so on. 

This can be seen as a handbook to assist travelers in comprehending the profound information and gaining a better grasp of Tawaf.

What is Tawaf?

Tawaf is a sacred Islamic ritual that involves circumambulating the Kaaba, the holy site in Mecca Saudi Arabia. Tawaf is said to be an important aspect because it demonstrates the unity of Allah's followers from all over the globe who gather at His house to worship. They all worship their one God in unison and harmony, marching in rounds together to demonstrate to Allah their unwavering confidence in Him through their entire prayer to Him. It is frequently misunderstood that Muslims are present to worship the Kaaba. Muslims, on the other hand, are there to worship their one God in peace and harmony, which is the true objective of Tawaf.

Tawaf is performed during Hajj and Umrah, two of the most important Islamic pilgrimages, and it requires precise adherence to the prescribed rituals. Muslims who perform Tawaf with sincerity and devotion will feel a deep sense of connection to Allah and a renewed commitment to their faith. 

Tawaf is the most important ritual performance for Muslims

What does Tawaf mean?

Tawaf means "going round and round" in Arabic. During Tawaf, pilgrims must go around the Kaaba (the black cube in Mecca) seven times counterclockwise. Tawaf refers to one complete circle of the Kaaba.

How many Tawaf in Umrah?

Tawaf al-Qudum and Tawaf al-Ziyarah are the two forms of Tawaf in Umrah. Tawaf al-Qudum is a one-circuit circumambulation of the Kaaba done upon arrival in Mecca. Tawaf al-Ziyarah is done after the Sa'i and consists of seven rounds around the Kaaba. As a result, there is one circuit in Tawaf al-Qudum and seven circuits in Tawaf al-Ziyarah, for a total of eight Tawaf circuits in Umrah. 

In addition, there are 3 other types of Tawaf: Tawaf-al-Umrah, Tawaf-al-Widaa, and Nafl Tawaf. Tawaf-al-Umrah is for those who want to perform Tawaf outside the Hajj season. Pilgrims who arrive from outside the bounds of Miqat must do the Tawaf-al-Widaa. The last one is Nafl Tawaf which is a voluntary Tawaf act that can be performed at any time, by anybody, and in any amount.

How many rounds in Tawaf?

Kaba's Tawaf is divided into seven rounds, each beginning and finishing with the Hajar al-Aswad (Black Stone), and the Istilam of the Hajar al-Aswad is performed at the start of each round. As a result, an Istilam is necessary seven times (7 times).

How To Perform Tawaf Ritual - Things You Need To Know

Tawaf is derived from the “tauf” in Arabic, which is a required ritual performance for Hajj and Umrah. Tawaf is the act of seven times circumambulating the Holy Kaaba in an anti-clockwise orientation. 

The performance will take place at the Black Stone (Har al-Aswad). The Black Stone is located on the southeast corner of the Kaaba, and it is believed to have been placed there by the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Isma'il (Ishmael) as a sign of the oneness of God. 

Before Tawaf

Before beginning Tawaf, Muslims perform ablution or wudu, which involves washing the hands, face, arms, and feet. In this phase, participants are required to be clean and pure. They then proceed to the Kaaba, where they begin the ritual by facing the Black Stone and reciting the Takbir, which is a declaration of the greatness of Allah. Muslims then walk counterclockwise around the Kaaba, keeping it to their left. They should make sure that their left shoulder is facing the Kaaba at all times. 

There are numerous customs that should be followed before the Tawaf ritual

During Tawaf

Muslims recite the Talbiyah, a prayer that proclaims the oneness of God and the submission of the believer to Him. The Talbiyah is spoken continuously throughout the seven circuits of Tawaf. During the performance, participants can touch the Black Stone if they want; however, this might be difficult due to the crowded people. If it is not possible to touch the Black Stone, you can point to it with your right hand while reciting the Takbir. 

After completing the seven circuits of Tawaf, Muslims perform two rak'ahs of prayer at the Station of Ibrahim. Next, they can drink the Zamzam water, a blessed water source near the Kaaba. Zamzam water is believed to have healing properties, and it is considered a blessed water source in Islam. As one finishes Tawaf, moving gently and gradually out of the room is advised to prevent tussling with other Tawaf performers.

What To Say During Tawaf?

You should proclaim, "Allah is the Greatest," every time you pass the Black Stone. For the remainder of his Tawaf, he may speak whatever he wants about supplications, Allah, and Quran recitation. This is due to the fact that Tawaf, Sa'yi, and Stoning the Jamrah were invented with the aim of invoking Allah.

How Long Is Tawaf?

Tawaf length can vary depending on a variety of aspects, such as the number of participants, the time of day, and the style of Tawaf done. On average, one round of Tawaf takes about 30 minutes to complete. As a result, completing the seven circles of Tawaf during Tawaf al-Ziyarah, which is part of the Hajj pilgrimage, takes around 3.5 hours.

Tawaf may be a difficult experience at times; therefore, it is important to be patient and calm during the performance. At Tawaf, Muslims should concentrate on their devotion and connection with Allah rather than hurrying or shoving people into the crowd.

How To Wear Ihram During Tawaf?

Ihram is a state of ritual purity that Muslims must enter before performing the pilgrimage of Hajj or Umrah. The clothing worn during Ihram is a simple, white garment that consists of two pieces of unstitched cloth. 

Before wearing Ihram, Muslims should take a shower to cleanse their bodies of impurities. The first piece of cloth is wrapped around the waist, covering the legs and ankles. It should be loose and comfortable. The second piece of cloth is draped over the shoulders, covering the upper body. It should be wrapped around the body in a way that leaves the right shoulder exposed.

Once you wear Ihram, you can take part in the Tawaf performance. During Tawaf, men should keep their upper garments above their navel, and women should cover their entire bodies except for their hands and faces.

Muslims must wear Ihram during the Tawaf

Get The Chance To Participate In The Tawaf

Tawaf is a required step in Umrah and some forms of Hajj. It essentially refers to the act of honoring God by circumambulating the Holy Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram. Tawaf is significant because it ties you to Allah and mirrors all circling substances in this universe.

Tawaf is not difficult to perform, but make sure you understand the customs, such as Ihram, in specific forms of Tawaf, cleanliness requirements, and the dos and don'ts of the ritual. Tawafs are also classified into five categories. When performing Hajj or Umrah, be sure you understand the categories that apply to you. 

In order to participate in the Tawaf, get a Saudi Arabia electronic visa to have unique experiences during your trips in Saudi. Remember that you should check your conditions in terms of visa requirements to make sure that you qualify to enter this country. Before traveling, visitors should discover more about Saudi Arabia's weather conditions to pack your clothes properly to enjoy the whole vacation.