Entering Mecca - [6] Tawaf 18 The two rak’as performed for tawaf 20 Drinking from the water of Zamzam 22 Sa'y(traversing between the Mount of Safa and Marwa) 23 Release from ihram for 'umrah

 Entering Mecca

Upon entering Mecca and after depositing his luggage in his accommodations, a pilgrim is to wash (if possible) or perform ablution.

Entering the Sacred Mosque

After entering Mecca, a pilgrim is to proceed to the Ka'bah to perform tawaf for 'umrah if he intends to perform 'umrah, or tawaf al-qudum (arrival circumambulation) if he intends to perform hajj.

Preparing for tawaf

When a pilgrim first sees the noble Ka'bah, he is to make takibr [glorify Allah by saying Allahu Akbar], tahlil (saying la ilaha illa Allah)

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and say, "Alhamdulillah allazi ballaghni baitihu al-Haram. Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik wa maghfiratik. Allahumma zid baytika hadha tashrifan wa ta'ziman wa takriman wa mahaba wa zid min sharafihu wa karamatihu miman hajjahu aw i'tamarahu tashrifan wa takriman wa birran. Allahumma anta as-Salam wa minka as-salam, fa ihyina rabana bi as-salam wa adkhilana dar as-Salam." i.e. "All praise be to Allah Who helped me reach His Holy Mosque. O Allah! Open for me the doors of Your mercy and forgiveness. O Allah! Increase the nobility, honor, reverence and dignity of this House. Increase the honor, reverence and piety of those who revere this House and who are on hajj or 'umrah. O Allah! You are Peace, the source of peace. O Lord! Raise us after death in peace and let us enter the abode of peace." And then he is to supplicate Allah with whatever He inspires him with since du'a` [supplication] made at this site is accepted by the will of Allah the Almighty.

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Parts and measurements of the noble Ka'bah

A pilgrim who has not committed any of the traditional invocations to memory, may invoke Allah with whatever he wishes and whatever he finds in his heart. He is not to occupy himself with reading any book other than the Qur`an which is the only book he should read and recite in abundance.

Tawaf

A pilgrim then proceeds to make tawaf from its prescribed place while in a state of purity.

A pilgrim begins tawaf by standing facing the Ka'bah with the Black Stone to his right and passing in front of it with all of his body while facing it. According to the opinion of Hanafi scholars and al-Athram from the Hanbalis, a pilgrim is to raise his hands upon facing the Black Stone as he does when making takbirat al-ihram when beginning to pray; make the intention for tawaf; takbir; tahlil; declare that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger and say, "Allahumma imanan Bik, wa tasdiqan bi kitabik, wa wafa`an bi 'ahdik, wa itiba'an li sunnat nabiyak Muhammad salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam." i.e. "O Allah! Out of faith in You and belief in Your Book, and to fulfill Your covenant and follow the sunnah of Your Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)."

Starting from the Black Stone, a pilgrim turns [from facing it] so that the Ka'bah is to his left and then proceeds to circumambulate it along with the other pilgrims until he completes seven rounds, starting and ending each round at the Black Stone.

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It is recommended to touch and kiss the Black Stone at the beginning of each round if possible. If this is difficult, a pilgrim may touch the Black Stone with his hand and then kiss his hand or point to it without kissing his hand.

Touching the Black Stone

When touching the Black stone, it is desirable to say the previously mentioned takbir, tahlil and du'a` (Allahumma imanan Bik, wa tasdiqan bi kitabik, wa wafa`an bi 'ahdik, wa itiba'an li sunnat nabiyak Muhammad salla Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam).

During tawaf, a pilgrim must not to occupy himself with anything other than dhikr (making remembrance of Allah), istighfar (asking Allah for forgiveness), du'a` and reciting what he has memorized of the Qur`an with submission and humility. The best du'a` is that mentioned in the noble Qur`an such as,

Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire. [Al-Baqarah, 201]

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A pilgrim is not to raise his voice or hurt others.

Avoid jostling or harming others

He should also maintain sincerity conforming to the words of Allah the Almighty Who says,

Call upon your Lord in humility and privately; indeed, He does not like transgressors. [Al-A'raf, 55]

The two rak'ahs after tawaf

After finishing the seven rounds of tawaf, a pilgrim proceeds to the Station of Ibrahim to perform two short rak'ahs individually for the sunnah of tawaf. If there is not enough space, he may pray anywhere else inside the mosque and then ask Allah for whatever he wishes with whatever Allah inspires him with.

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The Station of Ibrahim

After ending the two rak'ahs, a pilgrim goes to the Multazam (the wall between the door of the Ka'bah and the Black Stone).

If he is able to reach it, he is to press his chest against it and raisehis arms while holding on to the covering of the Ka'bah. He is to ask Allah from His bounties for himself and for others since du'a` is always accepted at this place by the will of Allah, the Most-High.

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Making du'a` at the Multazam

Drinking from the water of Zamzam

Afterwards, a pilgrim goes to drink from the water of Zamzam as much as he can. This is based on the words of the Prophet who said, "The water of Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for."4

Sa'y (traversing) between the Mount of Safa and Marwa

After drinking from the water of Zamzam or after standing at al-Multazam, a pilgrim returns to perform sa'y (traversing between the mounts of Safa and Marwa) starting from as-Safa based on the words of Allah Almighty Who says,

Indeed, as-Safa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah . [Al-Baqarah, 158]

Conditions of sa'y (traversing):

1- Making sa'y after a valid tawaf

2- Completing seven rounds4- Performing sa'y inside the mas'a [the area between as-Safa and al-Marwa]

When a pilgrim ascends as-Safa, he makes tahlil, takbir, faces the noble Ka'bah, invokes peace and blessings upon the Prophet, and supplicates Allah for himself and his loved ones with whatever Allah inspires him.

A pilgrim starts the rounds of sa'y by walking at a normal pace starting from as-Safa until he reaches al-Marwa within the designated area while keeping order and refraining from hurting others.

A pilgrim (men only) quickens his pace inside the mas'a (the area between as-Safa and al-Marwa) between the two green poles.

When reaching al-Marwa, a pilgrim ascends it, remains there for some time, makes takbir and tahlil, invokes peace and blessings upon the Prophet, faces the Ka'bah, and supplicate Allah for whatever he wishes of good in both this world and the Hereafter, for himself and for others. This constitutes one round. The rest of the rounds are made in the same manner, all the while maintaining submission, sincerity, and making

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dhikr and istighfar. It is recommended to say the words that the Messenger of Allah said at this spot, "Rab ighfir wa irham, wa a'fu 'amma ta'lam. Anta al-A'az, al-Akram. Rab ighfir wa irham wa ihdini as-sabil al-aqwam."5 i.e. "My Lord! Forgive, show mercy and overlook that which You know. Verily, You are the Most Powerful and Generous. O my Lord! Forgive, have mercy and guide me to the straight Path."

By finishing the seven rounds of sa'y, a pilgrim thus completes the rites of 'umrah for which he had made the intention when he assumed ihram.

Release from ihram for 'umrah

After performing the above rites, a pilgrim is to either shave his entire head with a razor or shorten his hair or part of it. Shaving the hair is recommended for men and prohibited for women.

Shaving the head or shortening the hair accomplishes release from ihram for 'umrah for both males and females, rendering permissible the things that were made unlawful by ihram. A pilgrim may wear whatever he wishes and enjoy all the lawful things until it is time to assume ihram for hajj when he decides to go to 'Arafat and Mina.

4 Recorded by Al-Hakim from a hadith narrated by Ibn 'Abbas. He declared it authentic through its chain of transmission if al-Garoudi is excluded. Al-Suyuti and al-Mundhiri decared it authentic.