Circumambulation of kaba Sunnah of Tawaf (circumambulation) It is Sunnah to perform certain acts in tawaf as given below: • Facing the Black Stone at the start of the tawaf while uttering a takbir (Allahu-Akbar), and a tahlil (La ilaha illahlah), and raising ones hands as they are raised in prayers, and if possible touching it with both hands and kissing it quietly, or placing ones cheek on it. Otherwise. one may touch it with ones hand and kiss the hand, or touch it with something, and then kiss it, or if even that is not possible, one may just point to it with a stick, etc. as is mentioned in some of the ahadith given below. Ibn Umar Razi Allahu Anhu said: Allahs Messenger (peace be upon him) faced the Black Stone, touched it, and then placed his lips on it and wept for a long time. Umar Razi Allaha Anhu also wept for a long time. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: O Umar, this is the place where one should shed tears. (Reported by Al-Hakim). It is reported by Ibn Abbas that Umar Razi Allahu Anha bent down towards the Black Stone and said: By Allah! I know that you are a mere stone, and if I had not seen my beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) kissing you and touching you I would have never done so. The Quran says: You have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct). (Quran chapter 33 verses 32) This was reported by Ahmad and others in slightly different words. Bukhari, Muslim and Abu Dawud reported that Umar Razi Allahu Anhu approached the Black Stone and kissed it. Then he said: I know that you are a mere stone that can neither harm nor do any good. If I had not seen the Prophet (peace be upon him) kissing you, I would have never kissed you. Al-Khatabi said: This shows that abiding by the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is binding, regardless of whether or not we understand its reason or the wisdom behind it. Such information devolves obligation on all those whom it reaches, even if they may not fully comprehend its significance. It is known, however, that kissing the Black Stone signifies respect for it, recognition of our obligation toward it, and using it as a means of seeking Allahs blessings. Indeed Allah has preferred some stones over others, as He preferred some countries and cities, days and nights, and months over others. The underlying spirit of all this is unquestioning submission to Allah. We have no definite evidence, however, to believe that any of the stones used in building the Kabah originally (by Ibrahim and Ismail), is still in existence today excepting the Black Stone. • Performing Tawaf • One must begin tawaf (circumambulation) with ones right shoulder uncovered, and the Kabah on ones left side, while facing the Black Stone, kissing it, if possible, or touching it with ones hand, or pointing in its direction, and saying, Bismillah wallahak baalla humma imanan bika wa tasdiqan bikitabika wa wafaan bi ahdika wa ittibaan li sunnati nabbiyyi sallalahu alaihi wa sallam (In the Name of Allah. Allah is the Greatest. O Allah! [I begin this tawafl believing in You, affirming the truth of Your BOOK , fulfilling my covenant with You, and following the example of the Prophet, peace be upon him). • Jogging lightly through the first three rounds around Kabah is encouraged. One should walk fast, keep close to Kabah as much as possible, and take short steps. In the next four rounds one should walk at normal pace. If one is unable to jog or get closer to Kabah, because of overcrowding around it, one may perform ones tawaf in any way possible. Touching the Yemeni corner (Ar-Ruknul Yemeni) is encouraged, and so is kissing or touching the Black Stone in each of the seven rounds of tawaf, if possible. Some of the supplications that are reported in this regard are given below: • Upon facing the Black Stone the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Allahumma imanan bika wa tasdiqan bikitabik wa wafa an biahadika wa Itbaan li sunnat nabbiyyika bismillahi wallahu akbar (This is reported directly from the Prophet (peace be upon him)) (O Allah! I begin this tawaf believing in You+ affirming the truth of Your BOOK , fulfilling my covenant with You, and following the example of Your Prophet, peace be upon him. In the Name of Allah! Allah is the Greatest!) • Upon commencing the tawaf the Prophet (peace be on him) said: Subhan Allah wal hamdu lillah wa la ilaha illallah wallahu akbar wa la haula wa la quwwata illa billah (Glory to Allah, All praise is due to Allah, there is no god but Allah. Allah is the Greatest. There is no might nor power except with Allah). (Ibn Majah) • Upon reaching the Yemeni corner the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Rabbana aatina fid dunniyya hasanatan wa fil akhirati hasanatan wa qina adhaban nar (Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Fire). (Reported by Abu Dawud, and Ash-Shafii from the Prophet (peace be upon him) on the authority of Umar) Ash-Shafii said: I like that each time on passing the Black Stone one should say Allahu Akbar, and while jogging one should supplicate and say: Allahumma ij alhu hajjan mabruran wa dhanban maghfuran wa Saiyan mashkuran (O Allah! Let this be an accepted Hajj, with sins forgiven, and a well appreciated effort). And during each round of tawaf he would say: Rabbighfir warham wafu ama talam wa antal aazzul akram allahumma aatina fid dunniyya hasanatan wafil aakhirati hasantan wa qina adhaban nar. (O my Lord. Forgive us, and have mercy upon us, pardon our sins that You only know, You are the Most Honored and Dignified. O Allah! Grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the fire). Fiqh us sunnah 5.71 **Reciting the Quran in Tawaf A person may recite the Quran while performing tawaf, because the purpose of tawaf is to remember Allah and the Quran is a reminder and a remembrance of Allah. Aishah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Tawaf (circumambulation) around the House of Allah, walking between Safa and Marwah, and throwing the pebbles at the Jamarahs are instituted for the remembrance of Allah. (Reported by Abu Dawud and Tirrnidhi who considers it a sound hadith) **Offering a Two Rakah Prayer After Tawaf It is sunnah to offer a two rakah prayer after completing the tawaf at the Station of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), or at any other place in the Sacred Mosque, regardless of whether it is a supererogatory tawaf or obligatory one (as in Hajj or Umrah). Jabir reported that When the Prophet (peace be upon him) came to Makkah, he went around the Kabah seven times, then went to the Station of Ibrahim and recited the verse (Quran 2.125): And take of the Station of Abraham a place of prayer. He prayed behind it, and then went to the Black Stone and kissed it. (Reported by Tirmidhi) In this two rakah prayer, it is sunnah to recite Surah Al-Kafirun, in the first rak ah, and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second rak ah, after reciting Al-Fatihah. (Reported by Muslim and others) These two rakahs may be offered at any time of the day and night including the prohibited times
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 11:21:26 +0000