الطواف

The Farewell الطواف is the last ritual action a الحاج performs before leaving مكة. According to the Hanafi, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools, it is واجب (واجب), with its omission requiring a فدية (animal sacrifice). The Maliki school considers it سنة mu'akkadah (emphasized سنة). It is performed like a regular الطواف — seven circuits around the الكعبة — but without the الرَّمَل (brisk walking in the first three circuits) or Idtiba (exposing the right shoulder) that are specific to the arrival الطواف. After the seven circuits, two ركعةs are prayed behind مقام إبراهيم. The الحاج should then drink زمزم water, make final الأدعية, and leave the Haram.

The primary exemption from the Farewell الطواف is for menstruating women, based on the hadith of Ibn Abbas: 'The people were ordered to make their last act the circumambulation of the House, but menstruating women were exempted' (Bukhari and Muslim). Women who begin menstruation after completing الطواف al-Ifadhah but before the Farewell الطواف are not required to wait until their menstruation ends — they may depart مكة without the Farewell الطواف and without any penalty. Women who have not yet performed الطواف al-Ifadhah must wait, as that الطواف is a pillar of الحج that cannot be omitted.

The Farewell الطواف carries deep emotional and spiritual weight. It is the الحاج's last act of worship at the House of Allah — the final circuits around the الكعبة before returning to the world. Many الحجاج weep during this الطواف, overwhelmed by the realization that they may never return. The scholars recommend that the الحاج make دعاء abundantly during these final circuits, asking Allah for acceptance of their الحج, for steadfastness upon return, and for the opportunity to return to the holy sites. It is سنة to leave the Haram walking backward, so that the last sight is of the الكعبة. This farewell is not merely to a building — it is a farewell to the most concentrated spiritual experience of the الحاج's life.