Performing তাওয়াফ on the upper floors of মসজিদুল হারাম is valid according to the majority of contemporary scholars, including Ibn Baz and Ibn Uthaymeen, provided the হাজী circumambulates around the কাবা শরীফ even if at a higher elevation. The condition is that the তাওয়াফ path must be outside and around the কাবা শরীফ's perimeter. তাওয়াফ on the ground level closer to the কাবা শরীফ is more virtuous but not ওয়াজিব.
Performing তাওয়াফ on the upper floors and rooftop of মসজিদুল হারাম is valid according to the majority of contemporary scholars. Sheikh Ibn Baz ruled that তাওয়াফ on any level of the মসজিদ is valid as long as the হাজী is circumambulating around the কাবা শরীফ, even if they are at a higher elevation than the কাবা শরীফ itself. He noted that the কাবা শরীফ extends upward conceptually — the airspace above the কাবা শরীফ is also considered part of its sacred area — and therefore তাওয়াফ at a higher level remains around the কাবা শরীফ.
Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen held a slightly more nuanced view: he considered তাওয়াফ on the upper floors valid when the ground floor is too crowded, but he noted that being closer to the কাবা শরীফ is more virtuous (afdal) and that the ground level is preferable when accessible. He stated that তাওয়াফ on the upper floors satisfies the requirement of circumambulating the কাবা শরীফ and is especially appropriate for the elderly, those in wheelchairs, and during extremely crowded times.
The Permanent Committee confirmed the validity of তাওয়াফ on all levels of মসজিদুল হারাম, noting that the expansion of the মসজিদ and the addition of multiple floors were specifically designed to accommodate the growing number of হাজীগণ. The key condition that scholars stipulate is that the হাজী must be circling around the কাবা শরীফ — if the upper floor extends beyond the কাবা শরীফ's vertical projection, some scholars debated whether the outermost path is valid, but the prevailing contemporary view is that it remains valid as the হাজী is still circumambulating the Sacred House.
নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) performed তাওয়াফ around the কাবা শরীফ while riding his camel, touching the হাজরে আসওয়াদ with his stick, so that the people could see him, observe his position, and ask him questions.
নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) performed তাওয়াফ around the কাবা শরীফ while riding his camel, touching the হাজরে আসওয়াদ with his stick, so that the people could see him, observe his position, and ask him questions.
Scholars from different schools of Islamic jurisprudence offer varying perspectives on this matter.
তাওয়াফ on upper floors is valid. The Hanafi school considers the airspace above the কাবা শরীফ as part of the কাবা শরীফ for purposes of তাওয়াফ. তাওয়াফ at ground level is preferred but not required.
Hanafi scholars extended the কাবা শরীফ's sanctity to include the space above it, validating তাওয়াফ at higher elevations.
The Maliki school validates তাওয়াফ on upper floors. Classical Maliki scholars discussed তাওয়াফ performed at elevated positions and considered it valid as long as the হাজী circles the কাবা শরীফ.
Al-Mudawwanah: তাওয়াফ is valid when circling the কাবা শরীফ from any position around it.
The Shafi'i school considers তাওয়াফ valid on upper floors. Some Shafi'i scholars debated whether তাওয়াফ above the height of the কাবা শরীফ's walls is valid, but the prevailing position permits it.
Al-Majmu' by al-Nawawi discusses the validity of তাওয়াফ at elevated positions, with the majority permitting it.
The Hanbali school validates তাওয়াফ on upper floors. Ibn Qudamah discussed তাওয়াফ at elevated positions and considered it valid. Contemporary Hanbali scholars like Ibn Baz explicitly confirmed this.
Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah: তাওয়াফ is valid from any elevation as long as one is circumambulating the কাবা শরীফ.
This is a scholarly summary, not a personal fatwa. Consult your scholar for personal rulings.
নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) performed তাওয়াফ around the কাবা শরীফ while riding his camel, touching the হাজরে আসওয়াদ with his stick, so that the people could see him, observe his position, and ask him questions.
Sahih Muslim #1273 (sahih)