Question 6
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Describe the performance of Tawāf during Hajj.
This was a popular question. Only a few of the candidates got it right while a large number of them could not establish how Tawāf is performed during Hajj. The question demanded the candidates to give the following points:
- Tawāf involves going round the Kacbah seven times in a state of purity.
- It is the performed for Ḥajj and cUmrah.
- There are essentially three types but perfomed in the same manner.
- These are: Tawāf –Qudūm (Arrival Tawāf)
- Its time of performance depends on when the pilgrim arrives at Makkah.
- It is to be performed before the standing at cArafah.
- The second Tawāf is variously called Tawāf al-Ifadah, or Tawāf az-Ziyārah or Tawāf ar-Rukn.
- It is compulsory of the three kinds.
- It is performed on the Day of cId al-Aḍhā.
- The final Tawāf is Tawāf al-Wada (farewell Tawāf).
- It is performed when a pilgrim first perfoms ritual bath.
- The pilgrim begins and ends the movement from the Ḥajar al-Aswad.
- The pilgrim begins by saying: Bismillahi Allāhu Akbar.
- The Black stone is kissed, touched or signalled at every round of the circumambulation.
- The pilgrim touches the Rukni Yamāni in every circuit.
- The pilgrim also recites certain supplications during the Tawāf.
- Pilgrims do the first three rounds faster than the last four of the seven rounds.
- Two Rakcah of Nāfilah is to be observed at Maqām Ibrāhīm at the end of it.