Ṭawāf
Definition
Tawaf is the act of circling the Kaaba seven times in a counterclockwise direction — one of the central rites of both Hajj and Umra. Al-Ghazali describes it as the Muslim's participation in a cosmic motion: just as the angels circle the Bayt al-Maʿmur (the Heavenly House directly above the Kaaba), the believer circles the earthly Kaaba in an act of worship that connects the visible and invisible worlds. He also notes that tawaf is one of the few acts of worship that never stops — the Kaaba is being circumambulated at every moment of every day and night, by millions of pilgrims over the centuries and by angels in the realm beyond.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Ṭawāf.
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"It is narrated that Sa'd ibn Mu'adh went for Umrah and stayed with Umayyah ibn Khalaf. Umayyah advised him to perform his circumambulation at midday when people were inattentive. While Sa'd was performing tawaf, Abu Jahl approached and questioned, "Who is this performing tawaf safely?" Sa'd replied, "I am Sa'd." Abu Jahl challenged him, "Do you perform tawaf safely when you have given refuge to Muhammad and his companions?" Sa'd affirmed, "Yes." They argued, and Umayyah cautioned, "Do not raise your voice against Abu al-Hakam, for he is the leader of the valley." Sa'd retorted, "By Allah, if you prevent me,"
— Imam al-Dhahabī, Volume 1
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"When the Prophet, peace be upon him, was pleased with something, he would say, "Labbayk, indeed the life is the life of the Hereafter." The third section on the etiquettes of entering Mecca for tawaf includes six points. First, to perform ghusl (ablution) at Dhu Tuwa before entering Mecca. The recommended ghusls in Hajj are nine: first for ihram at the miqat, then for entering Mecca, then for tawaf of arrival, then for standing at Arafat, then standing at Muzdalifah, then three ghusls for stoning the three Jamarat (and no ghusl for stoning Jamrat al-Aqabah), then for the farewell tawaf."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 7: The Mysteries of Pilgrimage
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"served Wali of Allah, Najmal Din al-Isfahani, during his life. Hassan al-Majnoon would often perform tawaf circumambulation at night. During his nightly tawaf, he would see a poor man who also performed tawaf frequently, but he would not see him during the day. One night, Hassan encountered this poor man and asked about his situation. The man said, O Hassan, your mother weeps for you and longs to see you. She was one of Allah's righteous servants. Would you like to see her? Hassan replied, Yes, but I have no power to do so."
— Ibn Battuta, Volume One: From Tangier to the Lands of the East
Appears in
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