Tawaf is one of the most important spiritual practices in Islam to the millions of Muslims worldwide. You can make your pilgrimage experience better whether you are planning your first visit to Umrah, planning your Hajj, or just want to learn more about this holy practice knowing the right way to complete Tawaf.
The ritual of making seven counter clockwise circles around the Kaaba is known as Tawaf. It is a basic aspect of Hajj and Umrah, and has difficult spiritual implications on the participants. Even the term Tawaf has an Arabic root of the meaning of going around or circumambulating.
This guide will take you in a step by step fashion of all that you should know about Tawaf and its historical importance as well as practical point of doing it right. We will discuss the various forms of Tawaf, the protocols that should be followed as well as how to prepare the body and soul to execute this great act of worship.
Understanding the Spiritual Significance of Tawaf
This Kaaba practice is dated back to the era of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) who built the Kaaba along with his son Ismail. The Muslims are repeating the same activity done thousands of years ago by the prophets and other believers when they circled this holy building in Tawaf. Umrah Packages from New York provides an opportunity to the people interested in this holy journey to see this old tradition.
The Muslims use the Kaaba as the qibla which is the direction they are facing when praying their five times a day. Pilgrims are literally worshipping Allah and consenting that their lives must be centrally based on worshiping him through circling him in the course of Tawaf. The clockwise rotation is similar to the natural rotation of the planets, it is applied to represent the unity of the human worship and the order of all that Allah has created.
Every circuit of the seven has a spiritual significance. Other scholars also propose that every one of the seven rounds signifies the seven heavens and others interpret that the rounds signify wholeness and perfection in the Islamic tradition. No matter what one interprets, all the seven circuits completed with seriousness and dedicated attention are very powerful spiritual encounter.
Types of Tawaf You Should Know
Not every Tawaf is carried out due to the same reason. Knowing the various types will make you appreciate the way and the reasons why they are done.
Tawaf al-Qudum
Tawaf of Arrival is one of the rituals that pilgrims perform at the first time they enter the Sacred Mosque during Hajj. This is a friendly prayer that enables you to welcome the home of Allah at the end of your journey.
Tawaf al-Ifadah
Tawaf of Pouring Forth is a necessary pillar of Hajj, it is carried out after the stand at Arafat and the night at Muzdalifah. You have not finished your Hajj without taking this Tawaf.
Tawaf al-Wida
The last Tawaf is known as Farewell Tawaf and which is done before leaving Makkah. It is your farewell to Kaaba and the last ritual that you should do prior to leaving the city.
Tawaf al-Umrah
Is done during the Umrah pilgrimage and could be done any time of the year.
Tawaf al-Nafl
Voluntary Tawaf is a worship practice that is performed any time. Many pilgrims repeat the Tawaf one more time voluntarily in order to gain additional rewards and spend more time in the close vicinity of Kaaba.
How to Perform Tawaf: Step-by-Step Instructions
Tawaf has to begin with ritual (wudu) purification. The men have to wear ihram, yet the women have to wear decently dressed clothes covering their bodies adequately. You should have intention (niyyah) in yourself on which kind of Tawaf you are doing.
Starting at the Black Stone
Start with the black stone (al-Hajar al-Aswad) which is on the eastern side of Kaaba. Where you can feel and kiss the Black Stone. Crowds however do not always make this to be the case. All that is required will be to lift your right hand and say Bismillah, Allahu Akbar (In the name of Allah, Allah is the greatest).
Circling the Kaaba
Go in an anti clockwise direction keeping the Kaaba at your left side. Men are expected to bare their right shoulder in Tawaf (a custom known as Idtiba) and stroll vigorously in the first three circuits (he termed as Raml), however this is not compulsory in all kinds of Tawaf.
Completing Each Circuit
You lap the Black Stone every time you pass through. Take it with your hand and say Allahu Akbar. There is no special duas (supplications) of tawaf and, thus, you can do anything you want to do like performing your own supplication, reading the Quran or using prescribed prayers.
The Yemeni Corner
In-between the Black Stone and Yemeni Corner (Rukn al-Yamani) you are also able to touch the Yemeni Corner, but not kissing it, when people allow. Having passed it, a good part whereof affirms many pilgrims: Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan waqina ‘adhaban-nar (Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us the punishment of the Fire).
After Seven Circuits
When you have gone round the seven circuits, two rakats of prayer should be done at a place where you can, or anywhere in the Sacred Mosque, to the Station of Ibrahim (Maqam Ibrahim). This concludes your Tawaf.
Practical Tips for a Smooth Tawaf Experience
The Makkah Holy Mosque contains millions of pilgrims especially during the Hajj period. These are a few of the feasible items that can help you make Tawaf a little more comfortable.
Choose Your Timing Wisely
The mosque is not crowded at the late night hours and between prayer periods. In case you are old, have mobility problems or are accompanied by small children, you should consider that Tawaf be done on higher levels where there is usually a lot of space.
Stay Hydrated
Physical activity of walking seven circuits combined with heat and crowds can be tiring. Before and after your Tawaf consume lots of water. Zamzam water is easily sold all about the mosque.
Wear Comfortable Footwear
On marble floors you shall be walking a long distance. Wearable comfortable and supportive shoes are necessary. Most pilgrims are fond of doing Tawaf with bare feet and nothing is wrong with that.
Be Patient and Courteous
Tawaf is being done by so many people and then in such a situation the patience is highly significant. Avoid pushing or rushing. Circuits, when you lose count of them, always keep another, instead of less than seven.
Consider Using a Wheelchair
There is no shame of utilizing wheelchair in case it is difficult to walk. They possess services and they are used by several pilgrims. How you accomplish the ritual on a physical plane does not matter but it is all about your will and piety.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During Tawaf
However, even with the good intentions, pilgrims may end up making an error in the process of the Tawaf. The familiarity with such common pitfalls will help you to prevent them.
Then begin not Tawaf without ritual purity. In case your wudu is broken in Tawaf, then you have to renew wudu and begin afresh.
then cut not through the Hijr Ismail (the semi-circular wall on the wall of the Kaaba). Yours must go round the outward side of this wall, or it is not a round.
Do not get so busy touching the Black Stone that you hurt yourself or others. It is quite okay to point to it even when at a distance and it also earns the same spiritual reward.
Do not make lengthy, loud prayers that distract others who are pilgrims. When performing dua in Tawaf, it is highly recommended that you should do so in a manner that appreciates the people around you.
There is no need to over worry on whether you are carrying out Tawaf in a similar way as others. There are minor differences in practice which do not matter so much, only adherence to the basic requirements should be noted with the genuine intentions.
Preparing Yourself for Tawaf with Salah Travels
At Salah Travels, we know that it can be overwhelming when a person does Tawaf the first time. This is why we offer detailed instructions and assistance so that your pilgrimage journey is not only going to be spiritually satisfying, but also logistically hassle-free. Our certified guides will take you through every single step of the Tawaf process, clarifying all the questions with answers and providing you with a valuable piece of advice which suits you best.
We provide accommodation near the Sacred Mosque, which reduces the distance that you have to cover and provides maximum time to worship. The team assists you in picking the optimal times to make Tawaf depending on the crowd sizes and capabilities of your physical body. Going there alone, with children, in a group, Salah Travels will make sure that you have all you require to concentrate on your worship and not on the details of the logistics.
The Emotional and Spiritual Impact of Tawaf
Several pilgrims talk of their initial Tawaf as an experience that was powerful in their lives. When one is standing in front of the Kaaba where all the believers in the world are present and are all united in worship, that gives an inexplicable feeling of brotherhood and connectedness to the world wide Muslim community.
The constant movement of going around Kaaba causes a meditative trance which enables serious reflection and closeness to Allah. Most pilgrims claim they are overwhelmed by a feeling of peace, humility and gratitude during Tawaf. Crying of fulfilment and spiritual enlightenment is the order of the day.
This emotional power is natural and it must be accepted. Make yourself up to here and now. Pray sincerely that he will spare you and your close ones as well as the alpha or omega of the ummah. This is one of the times when prayers have high chances of being answered.
Making the Most of Your Tawaf Experience
Get ready your heart first before you begin to get maximum spiritual benefits of the Tawaf. Do not forget what your relationship with Allah is and attend the ritual with humility and hope. You also should learn some positive duas in advance that you will be able to use effective supplication when you are doing circuits.
Think of what historical value you will leave behind you. You are treading the steps of prophets and you are carrying out a ceremony, which was done thousands of years ago. This awareness contributes to the experience in a manner that is unexplainable.
Sacred Mosque After Tawaf, sit and contemplate everything you have seen. Note down what you have felt and seen. The spiritual awareness that the pilgrims get when conducting Tawaf is still experienced by majority of the pilgrims even after they have gone back home.
Your Journey Begins Here
Tawaf is much more than a physical action of circumnavigating a building. It is the submissiveness to Allah, togetherness with other believers, and the deep attachment to Islamic history and tradition. Knowing the meaning, the necessity, and the manners of Tawaf, you will be able to with certainty and a sense of holiness treat this holy ceremony.
You may be coming to Umrah on your first visit or you may be going back after coming first, proper preparation makes the entire experience more wonderful. Salah Travels is here to help you out in all the processes of the trip including planning and ensuring that you get back home safe. We take care of the finances so that you can continue with what is important and that is building your relationship with Allah and complete this beautiful worship.
And accept thy Tawaf, May it take you to the Almighty. Now is the time to start planning your pilgrimage and Salah Travels can assist you to go there to experience a spiritual event of your life.
