Tawaf al-Qudum, also known as Tawaf al-Tahiyyah (greeting tawaf), is the first tawaf a jamaah haji performs upon arriving in Mekkah. The majority of scholars — Hanafi, Shafi'i, and Hanbali — consider it a Sunnah mu'akkadah (emphasized sunnah act), meaning it is highly sunnah but not wajib, and no penalty is due for omitting it. The Maliki school, however, considers it wajib (wajib) and holds that a dam (sacrificing a sheep) is required for deliberately skipping it without a valid excuse.
Sheikh Ibn Baz explained that Tawaf al-Qudum applies specifically to jamaah haji performing Haji al-Ifrad (Haji alone) or Haji al-Qiran (combined Haji and Umrah). Pilgrims performing Haji al-Tamattu do not need a separate Tawaf al-Qudum because their Umrah tawaf upon arrival serves this purpose. Additionally, those who arrive in Mekkah after the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah (after Arafah) are exempt from Tawaf al-Qudum according to all scholars, as the time for it has passed.
Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen noted that menstruating women who arrive in Mekkah for Haji and cannot perform tawaf before going to Arafah are excused from Tawaf al-Qudum without any penalty, even according to those who consider it wajib. He emphasized that Tawaf al-Qudum, whether Sunnah or wajib, is waived for anyone with a valid excuse, and the obligation of Tawaf al-Ifadah (the essential Haji tawaf) remains unaffected.