তাওয়াফ

The Farewell তাওয়াফ is the last ritual action a হাজী performs before leaving মক্কা মুকাররমা. According to the Hanafi, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools, it is wajib (ওয়াজিব), with its omission requiring a fidyah (animal sacrifice). The Maliki school considers it sunnah mu'akkadah (emphasized sunnah). It is performed like a regular তাওয়াফ — seven circuits around the কাবা শরীফ — but without the Raml (brisk walking in the first three circuits) or Idtiba (exposing the right shoulder) that are specific to the arrival তাওয়াফ. After the seven circuits, two rak'ahs are prayed behind Maqam Ibrahim. The হাজী should then drink Zamzam water, make final duas, and leave the Haram.

The primary exemption from the Farewell তাওয়াফ 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 তাওয়াফ al-Ifadhah but before the Farewell তাওয়াফ are not required to wait until their menstruation ends — they may depart মক্কা মুকাররমা without the Farewell তাওয়াফ and without any penalty. Women who have not yet performed তাওয়াফ al-Ifadhah must wait, as that তাওয়াফ is a pillar of হজ্জ that cannot be omitted.

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