الطواف al-Qudum

What Does الطواف al-Qudum Mean in Detail?

الطواف al-Qudum serves as the الحاج's first act of devotion upon entering the sacred city of مكة, comparable to the greeting الصلاة (Tahiyyat al-Masjid) offered when entering a مسجد. It is specifically associated with الحج Ifrad and الحج Qiran الحجاج, as Tamattu الحجاج perform the الطواف of their العمرة upon arrival instead. The Shafi'i school considers it a السنة, the Maliki school considers it Wajib for those entering from outside the Miqat boundaries, and the Hanafi and Hanbali schools consider it السنة. During الطواف al-Qudum, male الحجاج practice two additional السنةs: الرَّمَل (walking briskly with short steps) during the first three circuits, and Idtiba (exposing the right shoulder). These practices are specific to this الطواف and الطواف of العمرة, not to الطواف al-Ifadah. After the seven circuits, the الحاج prays two ركعةs behind مقام إبراهيم and drinks زمزم water. If a الحاج arrives in مكة close to the time of Wuquf at عرفة, they may skip الطواف al-Qudum and proceed directly.