Tawaf al-Qudum

What Does Tawaf al-Qudum Mean in Detail?

Tawaf al-Qudum serves as the jamaah haji's first act of devotion upon entering the sacred city of Mekkah, comparable to the greeting shalat (Tahiyyat al-Masjid) offered when entering a masjid. It is specifically associated with Haji Ifrad and Haji Qiran jamaah haji, as Tamattu jamaah haji perform the Tawaf of their Umrah upon arrival instead. The Shafi'i school considers it a Sunnah, the Maliki school considers it Wajib for those entering from outside the Miqat boundaries, and the Hanafi and Hanbali schools consider it Sunnah. During Tawaf al-Qudum, male jamaah haji practice two additional Sunnahs: Raml (walking briskly with short steps) during the first three circuits, and Idtiba (exposing the right shoulder). These practices are specific to this Tawaf and Tawaf of Umrah, not to Tawaf al-Ifadah. After the seven circuits, the jamaah haji prays two rak'ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim and drinks Zamzam water. If a jamaah haji arrives in Mekkah close to the time of Wuquf at Arafah, they may skip Tawaf al-Qudum and proceed directly.