তাওয়াফ al-Wida

What Does তাওয়াফ al-Wida Mean in Detail?

তাওয়াফ al-Wida serves as the হাজী's farewell to the House of Allah — the last spiritual embrace before departing the holiest city in Islam. নবী করীম Muhammad (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) commanded: 'Let none of you depart until the last thing they do is তাওয়াফ of the House' (Muslim). This hadith forms the basis for the obligation. The হাজী performs seven circuits of the কাবা শরীফ in the standard manner, prays two rak'ah behind Maqam Ibrahim, and then departs মক্কা মুকাররমা without lingering for shopping, socializing, or other non-essential activities — the তাওয়াফ should genuinely be the final act. The legal status of তাওয়াফ al-Wida varies among the schools. The Hanafi, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools classify it as wajib (ওয়াজিব), meaning that omitting it without a valid excuse requires a dam (compensatory sacrifice of a sheep). The Maliki school uniquely considers it a মুস্তাহাব Sunnah (mustahabb) rather than wajib, meaning no penalty for omitting it. All schools agree, however, that it is not a rukn (pillar) — omitting it does not invalidate the হজ্জ. Important exemptions exist for তাওয়াফ al-Wida. Women who are menstruating or experiencing postnatal bleeding at the time of departure are excused from performing it, based on the hadith of Ibn Abbas: 'The people were commanded that the last thing they do should be তাওয়াফ of the House, except that menstruating women were given a concession' (Bukhari and Muslim). Additionally, তাওয়াফ al-Wida is specific to হজ্জ — it is not required after উমরাহ, জমহুর উলামাদের মতে, though some consider it মুস্তাহাব. Residents of মক্কা মুকাররমা are also exempt, as they are not 'departing' the city.