Tawaf: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Tawaf in Masjid Al-Haram around Kaba.jpg|350px|thumbnail|Performing Tawaf in [[al-Masjid al-Haram]] around [[Ka'ba]]]]

'''Ṭawāf''' (Arabic:{{ia| الطواف}}) consists in seven turns of circumambulation around the [[Ka'ba]], which is one of the obligatory rituals of [[hajj]] and [['umra]]. Each turn of this circumambulation is called a "shawt". All kinds of hajj and 'umra have two tawafs: tawaf al-ziyarah (tawaf of pilgrimage) and [[tawaf al-nisa']] (tawaf of women), except [[al-'umrat al-tamattu']] that does not involve tawaf al-nisa'. When one does not wear [[ihram]], they can also practice [[mustahab]] tawafs. After each tawaf, two [[rak'a]]s of [[prayer]]s should be performed behind [[Maqam Ibrahim (a)]].

The word "tawaf" means to surround something or to turn around something on foot. "Ta'if" (Arabic:{{ia| طائف}}; the subject-adjective form) refers to someone who turns around the house. In the terminology of [[fiqh]], "tawaf" refers to the circumambulation around the [[Ka'ba]].

* There is a [[hadith]] from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] according to which if someone practiced the tawaf in their own clothes in the period of Jahiliyya, then they had to give it away as [[sadaqa]]. So they had to borrow clothes for tawaf, and if they could not find anything, they, including women, had to practice the tawaf nakedly.

Tawaf and some of its rulings are mentioned in the [[Qur'an]], [[Quran 2|2]]:125,{{Enote|And [remember] when We made the House a place of reward for mankind and a sanctuary, [declaring], "Take the venue of prayer from Abraham's Station." We charged Abraham and Ishmael [with its upkeep, saying], "Purify My House for those who go around it, [for] those who make it a retreat and [for] those who bow and prostrate." (Quran 2:125)}} and [[Quran 22|22]]:26{{Enote|When We settled for Abraham the site of the House [saying], Do not ascribe any partners to Me, and purify My House for those who go around it, and those who stand [in it for prayer], and those who bow and prostrate. (Quran 22:26)}} and 29{{Enote|Then let them do away with their untidiness, and fulfill their vows, and go around the Ancient House. (Quran 22:29)}}. These verses imply that tawaf was an old worship common in the period of the prophet [[Ibrahim (a)]].  

In 2:158,{{enote|Indeed Safa and Marwah are among Allah's sacraments. So whoever makes hajj to the House, or performs the umrah, there is no sin upon him to circuit between them. Should anyone do good of his own accord, then Allah is indeed appreciative, all-knowing. ([[Quran 2]]:158)}} running between [[Safa]] and [[Marwa]] is also called 'tawaf'. In some other verses, tawaf cognate words is used in its literal meaning (that is, turning around something).

* It leads to the divine forgiveness.  

* It raises one's spiritual degrees.

===Obligatory===

There are two kinds of [[wajib|obligatory]] tawaf, tawaf al-ziyarah and tawaf al-nisa'.

====Tawaf al-Ziyarah====

Tawaf al-ziyarah (Tawaf of pilgrimage) is an obligatory tawaf practiced in hajj and 'umra rituals. It is also called "al-tawaf al-awwal" (the first tawaf), "tawaf al-fard", "tawaf al-farida" (tawaf of obligation), and "tawaf al-rukn" (necessary tawaf). Tawaf al-ziyarah is an essential component of hajj and 'umra. Here are some features of this tawaf:

* In [[al-'umrat al-mufrada]], it is the second action practiced after [[ihram]] with ihram clothes. It can be done during the year, except the specific days of hajj.

* In [[al-'umrat al-tamattu']], it is the second action done after ihram with ihram clothes. It should be done between [[Shawwal 1]] to [[Dhu l-Hijja 9]] ([[Day of 'Arafa]]).

* In hajj, it is the 7th action done after [[Halq and Taqsir |halq or taqsir]] (shaving or shortening of hair and nails) on [[Dhu l-Hijja 10]] with migration from [[Mina]] to [[Mecca]]. It can also be done after the return from Mina ([[Dhu l-Hijja 12]]), but it is recommended to be done on the Day of 'Arafa. This tawaf is done in clothes other than ihram, because after halq or taqsir, the pilgrim should take off his or her ihram clothes. This is called tawaf al-ziyarah (tawaf of pilgrimage) because after the practices of Mina on [[Eid al-Adha]], the pilgrim goes back to Mecca to visit the Ka'ba and practice tawaf, and then returns to Mina to practice the rest of the rituals. After this tawaf, wearing a perfume -which was forbidden after ihram- becomes permissible for the pilgrim.

====Tawaf al-Nisa====

Although tawaf al-nisa' is obligatory, the hajj or 'umra will not be invalid by refraining from doing it. However, one would not be permitted to have enjoyment with his wife unless he (or his representative) practices tawaf al-nisa' and its prayer.

Tawaf al-nisa' and its prayer are the last actions in al-'umrat al-mufrada and the last actions of Mecca in hajj. The tawaf is obligatory in hajj or 'umra, after which one will be permitted to have enjoyment with his/her spouse -by ihram any sexual encounter between spouses becomes forbidden. Like [[temporary marriage]], tawaf al-nisa' is specific to [[Shiite]]s. Sunni Muslims do not recognize it in hajj or 'umra.

In addition to obligatory tawafs, one can practice recommended tawafs in [[al-Masjid al-Haram]] as well. It is recommended to practice the tawaf upon entering [[Mecca]] (tawaf of entrance) and upon leaving the city (farewell tawaf). The first obligatory or recommended tawaf practiced upon entering Mecca is called "tawaf al-qudum".

[[File:Tawaf 2.jpg|350px|thumbnail|Each round of tawaf starts counterclockwise from Black Stone and ends there.]]

The tawaf begins and ends with the Black Stone that is now marked on the ground with black marbles from this rukn (corner).

During the tawaf, one's left shoulder should be directed to the Ka'ba.

 

Tawaf can also be done while riding a vehicle. It is reported that when there was flood in al-Masjid al-Haram, some people practiced the tawaf while swimming.

There is disagreement among scholars of [[fiqh]] about the confines of the tawaf. Some people take it to be cloaser than [[Maqam Ibrahim]] to Ka'ba, which is 13 meters radius from the Ka'ba, and some take it to include the whole area of [[al-Masjid al-Haram]]. [[Hijr Isma'il]] is outside of the confines of tawaf so people should circumambulate around it, not through it.

If we take the confines of tawaf to be the whole area of al-Masjid al-Haram or take it as permissible to practice the tawaf in areas more distant from Maqam Ibrahim (a) because of large populations, then the question arises that is it valid to do it on the second floor of al-Masjid al-Haram or the two-floor temporary metal constructions in the courtyard of the mosque.  

Some Shiite and [[Sunni]] scholars of [[fiqh]] take this tawaf to be valid, and some people believe that if the constructions are higher than the ceiling of the Ka'ba, then it will be invalid. In 2015, it was reported that the second floor of al-Masjid al-Haram and the second floor of the metal construction in the courtyard are higher than the ceiling of the Ka'ba, while the first floor of the metal construction is lower than the ceiling.