What is Tawaf and how to start Tawaf?

Posted by Ady Grewal on December 5th, 2019

Hajj and umrah, both possess a significant amount of importance and devotion in the heart of every Muslim. One of the many rituals that are common in both is Tawaf of the Holy Kaabah. Every year, millions of Muslim pilgrims perform hajj in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic year. While Umrah is performed all around the year without any restrictions. With a variety of 3-star to 5 star Ramadan Umrah packages, offered by travel agents worldwide, Muslims get a lot of options to choose from.

Meaning of Tawaf

Tawaf is defined as ‘walking around the Kaabah 7 times in a counter-clockwise manner with particular restrictions and rules. It’s an obligation. Whether you are performing umrah of hajj, without tawaf both Ibadah is incomplete.

Purpose

Tawaf is an exemplary portrayal of Muslim unity. When Muslims from all around the world; each of them different in their looks, race, nation, and language, unite under the relation that Islam provides them, the sight is worth seeing. It is not only a spiritual journey but also an emotional one. There’s also strong Islamic history related to the ritual of Tawaf.

Types of Tawaf

There are 5 major types of tawaf in Islam. Each one of them is quite similar but slightly differs according to the Ibadah you are performing; Hajj or Umrah.

1. Tawaf-al-Ziyarah or Tawaf-al-Hajj; Performed between the dawn of 10th Dhul Hijjah to the sunset of 12th Dhul Hijjah.
2. Tawaf-al-Umrah; Mandatory for performing Umrah.
3. Tawaf-al-Qudoom; Performed upon entering Masjid-ul-Haram in the state of Ihram by those performing Hajj al-Qiran or Hajj al-Ifrad.
4. Tawaf-al-Widaa; Farewell tawaf performed at the end of Hajj.
5. Nafal tawaf; Can be performed anytime as a Nafal.

How to start Tawaf?

Before doing tawaf you need to fulfill all the requirements. For example, Wearing Ihram, Purifying one’s body through Wudhu or Ghusl, etc.
• Turn to your right, making sure that the Holy Kaabah is on your left side.
• Begin the first round of your Tawaf.
• Proceed in an anti-clockwise direction; around the ‘Hijr Ismail’.
• If you walk through Hijr Ismail, the round won’t be valid and you will have to perform it again.
• If there’s sufficient space as well as a requirement of your Tawaf, perform ‘Raml’.
Guidelines for Tawaf.
• Wear Ihram in a proper manner.
• Every pilgrim – men, women, and children, will start as well as end their Tawaf at the “Black Stone” also known as the Hajar al-Aswad.
• You can stop Tawaf if you need to go to the toilet or feel the hunger to eat or drink something. However, when you come back, make sure you are in the state of Wudhu and should start the tawaf where you left it.
• Refrain from unnecessary talking.
• 7 rounds of the Tawaf around the Kaabah are necessary. Neither you can perform fewer rounds nor additional rounds.
• When tawaf completes, one should slow down the walk and gradually transition out without disturbing the tawaf of others.

 If you have booked umrah packages London, these tips will help you remain more aware of the Tawaf’s rules and regulations during the pilgrimage.