Planning an Umrah journey for the first time? It's the time to understand the Umrah rituals to perform them well. With this, Tawaf is an important and foremost ritual of Umrah that pilgrims have to perform in Masjid al-Haram around Kaabah.
So, this guide is all about what is Tawaf, why it's significant and how to perform Tawaf in Umrah step by step. And with this, start your journey of understanding Umrah rituals one by one.
What is Tawaf in Umrah?
Tawaf is an act of revolving around. And in Islamic Shari'a, Tawaf is an important ritual of Umrah and is a form of Ibadah. Tawaf is a worshipping act of completing seven circuits around the Kaabah in anticlockwise direction. And without performing Tawaf, Umrah remains incomplete and invalid as well. So, understanding the basics of Tawaf should be the first step of learning how to perform Umrah step by step.
Why Tawaf Is So Important in Islam
Tawaf is a significant act of Ibadah that emphasizes mainly on humility and equality of pilgrims. All the Muslims from all over the world get together in the same place and perform Tawaf in the same condition is what reflects the core of Islamic community. So, it's both a symbolic and religious act that pilgrims must perform to complete an Umrah.
Some of the scholars also explain that circumambulating of pilgrims around the Kaabah imitates the circumambulation of angels around Bait Al-Ma'maur over the sky. This way, it's a significant and a highly rewarding act.
Rewards of Tawaf According to Hadith
According to Hadith, Allah sent 120 mercies on Kaabah everyday. And from them, 60 mercies are rewarded to pilgrims who perform Tawaf which is a great thing. The remaining 40 mercies are for pilgrims in prayer and 20 for pilgrims who gaze on Kaabah.
How to perform Tawaf in Umrah step by step?
Tawaf is an important ritual of an Umrah journey that has to be performed exactly according to the Sunnah way. Specifically, first time pilgrims should understand performing tawaf in Umrah step by step before heading to this journey.
Here's all the steps to follow during tawaf from making niyyah to completing the seven circuits of Tawaf al-Umrah.
Step 1: Making Niyyah for Tawaf
Making a pure intention of performing tawaf al-Umrah matters before starting the first circuit of Tawaf. However, a verbal recital of niyyah isn't mandatory. So, revive in the heart that you are going to perform tawaf as part of your Umrah journey for the sake of Allah.
Make niyyah while heading towards Hajar al-Aswad. Also, recite the Sunnah Dua of making niyyah to perform tawaf.
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُؤَدِّيَ طَوَافَ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
Translation: I intend to perform the Tawaf of this House for the sake of Allah, the Most High.
Also, ask Allah for making this ritual easier for you:
اللَّهُمَّ يَسِّرْ لِي هَذَا الطَّوَافَ، وَتَقَبَّلْهُ مِنِّي، وَاجْعَلْهُ خَالِصًا لِوَجْهِكَ الْكَرِيمِ
Translation: O Allah, make this Tawaf easy for me, accept it from me, and make it purely for Your Noble sake.
Dua for Acceptance of Tawaf
اللَّهُمَّ تَقَبَّلْ مِنِّي طَوَافِي، وَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي، وَارْحَمْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ
Translation: O Allah, accept my Tawaf, forgive my sins, and have mercy on me through Your mercy.
Step 2: Starting Tawaf from Hajar al-Aswad
The corner of the Kaabah having Hajar al-Aswad is the starting point of Tawaf. And it starts by kissing, touching or raising a hand towards Hajar al-Aswad.
- Kissing Hajar al-Aswad: It's the Sunnah of our Holy Prophet to start performing Tawaf by kissing Hajar al-Aswad which is the stone right from Jannah. So, if you get the chance, place your hands on this stone and put your face between hands to kiss the stone lightly while saying:
بِسْمِ اللهِ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Translation: In the name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest
- Touching Hajar al-Aswad: Touching Hajar al-Aswad is the second best way to start Tawaf al-Umrah. So, if kissing this black stone isn't possible, prefer touching the stone with any hand and kiss your hand while saying this Dua:
بِسْمِ اللهِ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Translation: In the name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest
- Doing Istilam: Most of the time, it's almost impossible for pilgrims to reach closer to Hajar al-Aswad and try touching or kissing. So, it's the best way to salute Hajar al-Aswad with the right hand to start Tawaf. And it's the safest and completely valid option to prevent harming fellow pilgrims.
So, raise your right hand up to ears while being in front of the Hajar al-Aswad while facing it and say this Dua:
بِسْمِ اللهِ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Translation: In the name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest
It's also not mandatory to kiss your hand after doing Istilam. However, position yourself exactly in the direction of Hajar al-Aswad. For this, there is also a green light opposite to this black stone on the wall of Masjid al-Haram towards your upper right side.
Step 3: Making Duas and Dhikr During Tawaf
Performing Tawaf doesn't only involve completing circuits around the Kaabah. In fact, it's a worshipping act with a purpose so that pilgrims feel connected with Allah. And reciting supplications or doing dhikar during Tawaf is the best way to remember Allah.
However, there isn't any specific Dua that pilgrims must recite in each circuit of Tawaf. So, pilgrims can recite any Quranic or Sunnah Dua while performing Tawaf. Here's a list of some important Dua's that every pilgrim should add into their Dua list and ask Allah during Tawaf:
Powerful Quranic Duas to Recite During Tawaf
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ
Translation: Our Lord, do not let our hearts go astray after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Indeed, You are the Giver of all gifts.
Asking for forgiveness and Rahmah
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ
Translation: My Lord, forgive me and have mercy on me, and You are the Best of those who show mercy.
Asking for blessings and protection from Hellfire
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Translation: Our Lord, give us goodness in this world and goodness in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Asking for strength, patience and ease in every matter
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي
Translation: My Lord, open my heart (give me comfort and clarity) and make my affairs easy for me.
Making Dua for Parents
رَبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
Translation: My Lord, have mercy on them both, just as they cared for me when I was young.
Making Dua for Success
رَبِّ إِنِّي لِمَا أَنْزَلْتَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَقِيرٌ
Translation: My Lord, I am truly in need of whatever good You send down to me.
Dua for Acceptance of Umrah
رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
Translation: Our Lord, accept this from us. Indeed, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.
Besides these supplications, here are highly rewarding Adhkar that you can repeat in each circuit during Tawaf:
سبحان اللہ
Translation: Glory be to Allah (Allah is perfect and free from all faults)
الحمدللہ
Translation: All praise is for Allah (Thank Allah for everything)
لا الہ الا اللہ
Translation: There is no god except Allah (Only Allah deserves worship)
اللّٰہ اکبر
Translation: Allah is the Greatest (Allah is greater than everything)
لا حول ولا قوۃ الا باللہ
Translation: There is no power and no strength except with Allah (We can do nothing without Allah's help)
سبحان اللہ و بحمدہ سبحان اللہ العظیم
Translation: Glory be to Allah and all praise is His, Glory be to Allah the Almighty
Specify any of these Dua's for each circuit of Tawaf to build connection with Allah and also remember the countdown of each circuit.
Step 4: Reaching Rukn al-Yamani
Rukn al-Yamani is one of the four corners of the Kaabah in the southwest direction that faces the land of Yemen. It's an important corner where pilgrims arrive during Tawaf before approaching Hajr Al aswad.
This is the corner where the Holy Prophet used to recite the following Dua:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Translation: Our Lord, give us goodness in this world and goodness in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
So, recite this Dua as soon as you reach Rukn al-Yamani and keep reciting it until you approach Hajar al-Aswad again - the point where you started Tawaf.
Step 5: Completing Each Tawaf Circuit Correctly
The first circuit of Tawaf al-Umrah gets completed after reaching in front of Hajar al-Aswad. So, start the next circuit of Tawaf in a similar way as you did firstly. Raise your right hand up to ears facing Hajar al-Aswad and saying:
بِسْمِ اللهِ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Translation: In the name of Allah, and Allah is the Greatest
Step 6: Completing All Seven Circuits of Tawaf
Complete all the seven circuits of Tawaf al-Umrah the same way. Start from doing Istilam, reciting any dhikar throughout the circuit, reciting Dua of rukn al-Yamani and doing Istilam again to start the next circuit. This way, the whole Tawaf al-Umrah involves seven circuits and eight Istilam.
Step 7: Offering Two Rak‘ah Salah After Tawaf
It's Sunnah to offer two Rak'ah salah after performing Tawaf. So, find any place near Maqam e Ibrahim to offer Salah while reciting:
وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّا
Translation: You may take the standing-place of Ibrahim as a site of prayer.
However, finding any place nearby Maqam e Ibrahim is impossible nowadays. So, offer this Rak'ah anywhere in Masjid al-Haram as a gratitude towards Allah. Recite Surah Al Kafirun in first Rak'ah and Surah Al Ikhlas in second Rak'ah after Surah Fatiha.
Tawaf Rules in Umrah for Men
There are certain rules for men to follow while performing Tawaf in Umrah. For example:
Idtiba Wearing Ihram During Tawaf
Men have to perform Idtiba before starting Tawaf. It's a practice of placing Rida the upper Ihram sheet under the right armpit and over the left shoulder while leaving the right shoulder uncovered.
Ramal Sunnah Walking in First Three Circuits
Men have to perform ramal during Tawaf which is the Sunnah of the holy prophet. It's a practice of walking quickly with short steps during the first three rounds of Tawaf. Men have to walk normally in the remaining four circuits of Tawaf al-Umrah.
Tawaf Rules for Women
There are also some rules specifically for women to follow while performing Tawaf in Umrah. For example:
- Complete Hijab: Women have to cover their whole body except face and hands during Tawaf.
- No Tawaf during menstruation: Women must wait until purity to perform Tawaf.
- No Ramal: Women don't have to perform Ramal but only walk normally in all the circuits.
- No Idtiba: Women don't have to perform Idtiba but have to cover their whole body.
- Avoid going in a crowd: Women shouldn't go near Hajar al-Aswad if there is already a crowd of men there.
- Lower voice while making Dua's and dhikr.
Wajib (Obligatory) Acts of Tawaf
Wajib acts of Tawaf are steps that pilgrims must fulfill while performing Tawaf. And missing any of these acts can invalidate Tawaf.
- Making Niyyah before starting Tawaf
- Completing seven circuits
- Starting each circuit at Hajar al-Aswad
- Ending each round at Hajar al-Aswad
- Performing Tawaf while keeping on the left side
- Performing Tawaf in anticlockwise direction
- Performing Tawaf while having Wudu (state of purity)
- Covering the ʿawrah
Sunnah Acts of Tawaf
There are also some acts in Tawaf al-Umrah that are Sunnah. Performing these acts enhances the quality of Tawaf but missing any of these doesn't invalidate Tawaf.
- Doing Istilam
- Ramal for men only
- Idtiba for men only
- Continuous Tawaf
- Making Dhikr or Dua
- Two Rak'ah after Tawaf
Common Mistakes to Avoid During Tawaf
There are some common mistakes that many pilgrims especially first-time pilgrims make during Tawaf in Umrah. Go through the following mistakes and understand what to avoid while performing Tawaf.
- Believing a specific Dua is required for each round (one can recite any Dua or dhikar).
- Making Tawaf without proper niyyah.
- Thinking that kissing Hajar al-Aswad is compulsory (Tawaf without kissing Hajar al-Aswad is completely valid).
- Forgetting the count of circuits.
- Pushing fellow pilgrims to reach Hajar al-Aswad.
- Performing Tawaf without Wudu.
- Turning Tawaf into a photography session.
- Engaging in loud talks or arguments.
- Lack of khushu (focus).
Practical Tips for First-Time Umrah Pilgrims Performing Tawaf
All the rules and Wajib or Sunnah acts are similar for all pilgrims including first-time travelers. However, there are some tips for first-time pilgrims for performing Tawaf al-Umrah properly and mindfully. Here are some pro tips to follow definitely:
- Revive in the heart that you are going to perfectly Tawaf to please Allah.
- Walk calmly throughout Tawaf and focus on doing dhikar and remembering Allah.
- Avoid pushing others who are performing Tawaf.
- Don't enter in the heavy crowd of pilgrims. In fact, it's safe to stay farther from Hajar al-Aswad.
- Count all the circuits of Tawaf carefully using fingers or a counter.
- Make supplications in your own words or recite your favorite Dua's.
- Avoid taking photos or making videos during Tawaf.
- Make sure you have Wudu before starting Tawaf.
- Wear modest and comfortable dress during Tawaf (for women).
- Be patient and practice tolerance as the crowd of pilgrims is also a part of this journey.
- Remember that Allah rewards sincerity more than perfection.
Final Words
In conclusion, Tawaf is an important ritual of Umrah that pilgrims must perform in the right way. It involves seven circuits around the Kaabah and each involves different acts of starting and ending each circuit and reciting supplications. So, follow this complete guide and try to avoid mistakes to enhance the chance of acceptance. Have a blessed Umrah journey ahead.
FAQs
Is Wudu Required for Tawaf?
Yes. Pilgrims must be in the state of purity while performing Tawaf. In fact, making Wudu is a prerequisite for performing Tawaf just like Salah. And Tawaf without Wudu is completely invalid.
So, pause your Tawaf if Wudu breaks while performing any of the Tawaf circuits. Do Wudu again and continue your Tawaf exactly from the circuit where you left. This is also the reason that women can't perform Tawaf during menstruation.
What Happens If You Miss a Round in Tawaf?
Completing the seven circuits in Tawaf al-Umrah is mandatory for every pilgrim. And missing any of the circuits means an incomplete Tawaf. However, there's no need to repeat the whole Tawaf again in this case.
In fact, make niyyah for completing the missing circuit of Tawaf and perform the only circuit that you have missed earlier.
Can You Make Your Own Dua During Tawaf?
Yes, it's completely permissible to make any Dua during Tawaf as there's no specific Dua for any of the circuits in Tawaf al-Umrah. So, pilgrims can ask anything from forgiveness, Rahmah, Barakah, guidance, health to acceptance of the whole journey. Even pilgrims can also make Dua in their native language.
How Many Rounds Are in Tawaf?
There are seven circuits in Tawaf that pilgrims have to perform both starting and ending at Hajar al-Aswad. Performing any less or more than seven circuits makes Tawaf incomplete until it's corrected.
What if you forget the number of Tawaf Circuits?
In this case, prefer going with the most certain thought. For example, if you are unsure between the 5th or 6th circuit of Tawaf, assume six and perform one more circuit to complete Tawaf. However, it's important to count the circuits carefully. Use any finger counter or a digital counter to avoid confusion.
What if you have performed more than seven circuits?
In this case, the extra circuits don't invalidate the entire Tawaf. In fact, Tawaf gets completed at seven circuits and the additional circuits will simply count as Nafl which carry no sin. However, it's important to count the circuits carefully and must stop after completing seven circuits.
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