তাওয়াফ

What Does তাওয়াফ Mean in Detail?

তাওয়াফ is one of the most visually striking and spiritually powerful acts of Islamic worship. The হাজী walks around the কাবা শরীফ — the cubic structure at the center of মসজিদুল হারাম in মক্কা মুকাররমা — seven complete times in a counterclockwise direction, keeping the কাবা শরীফ to their left. Each circuit (shawt) begins and ends at the হাজরে আসওয়াদ (Hajar al-Aswad), which হাজীগণ attempt to kiss, touch, or point toward with their right hand while saying 'Bismillahi Allahu Akbar.' There are several types of তাওয়াফ, each serving a different purpose within the হজ্জ rites. তাওয়াফ al-Qudum (arrival তাওয়াফ) is performed upon first entering মক্কা মুকাররমা. তাওয়াফ al-Ifadah (also called তাওয়াফ al-Ziyarah) is the ওয়াজিব তাওয়াফ performed on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah and is a pillar (rukn) of হজ্জ — without it, the হজ্জ is incomplete. তাওয়াফ al-Wida (farewell তাওয়াফ) is performed before leaving মক্কা মুকাররমা. For উমরাহ, the তাওয়াফ is also a rukn (pillar) and must be completed for the উমরাহ to be valid. During the first three circuits of certain তাওয়াফs, men are encouraged to practice raml — a brisk, shoulder-swaying walk — as নবী করীম Muhammad (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) did. Men also practice idtiba, where the right shoulder is exposed by placing the ইহরাম garment under the right arm. Pilgrims may recite any dua or dhikr during তাওয়াফ; there are no mandatory specific দোয়াs for each circuit, though many scholars have compiled মুস্তাহাব duas. After completing seven circuits, the হাজী prays two rak'ah behind Maqam Ibrahim (Station of Abraham) and drinks Zamzam water.