Performing circumambulations of the holy Kaaba during Umrah is known as Tawaf. It is a compulsory ritual for all pilgrims aiming to perform Umrah successfully. It is a holy ritual and hence there are number of pre-requisites and duas are associated with it.
The word Tawaf is derived from the Arabic word Tauf, which means to go round and round in the Arabic language. The literal meaning of Tawaf is ‘to walk around’ or ‘to encircle something’. That’s why the action of circling the Holy Kabbah seven times in an anti-clockwise direction is known as Tawaf.
Upon entering Masjid al-Haram, ensure you’re in a state of Wudhu and enter the Mataf, which is the area where Tawaf takes place. If your Tawaf requires it, perform Idtiba by uncovering your right shoulder. The recital of the Talbiyah should stop once the Tawaf commences.
Proceed towards the corner of the Kaaba where the Hajar al-Aswad is situated. This corner is the one that faces a single minaret (the other three corners face two minarets). There is a green light on the wall of the Masjid opposite the Kaaba, which indicates where the Tawaf starts from. This is the starting point of each circuit. Stand just before this starting point facing the Kaaba.
As with any other act of worship, make an intention to perform Tawaf solely for the sake of Allah. The following intention could be made:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أُرِيْدُ طَوَافَ بَيْتِكَ الْحَرَامِ فَيَسِّرْهُ لِيْ وَتَقَبَّلْهُ مِنِّيْ
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-ṭawwafa baytika l-ḥarāmi fa yassirhu lī wa taqabbalhu minnī.
O Allah, I intend to perform Tawaf of the Sacred Mosque, so accept it from me and make it easy for me.
During Tawaf, you may recite the following Duas:
At the start of Tawaf
The following Dua was recited by Ali ibn Ali Talib I:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُمَّ إِيْمَاناً بِكَ وَتَصْدِيْقاً بِكِتَابِكَ، وَوَفَاءً بِعَهْدِكَ، وَاتِّبَاعاً لِسُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكَ مُحَمَّدْ
Bismi llāhi wa llāhu akbar, Allāhumma īmānan bika wa taṣdīqan bi kitābika wa wafā’an bi ahdika wattibā’an li sunnati nabiyyika Muḥammadin ﷺ.
In the name of Allah, Allah is the greatest. O Allah, out of faith in You, conviction in Your book, in fulfilment of Your covenant and in emulation of Your Prophet’s Sunnah ﷺ.
Between the Rukn al-Yamani and the Hajar al-Aswad
The following two supplications were recited by the Prophet ﷺ:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِيْ الدُنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَّفِيْ الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّقِنَا عَذَابَ النَار
Rabbanā ātinā fi d-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fi l-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ‘adhāba n-nār.
O our Lord, grant us the good of this world, the good of the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the fire.
اللَّهُمَّ قَنِّعْنِيْ بِمَا رَزَقْتَنِيْ وَبَارِكْ لِيْ فِيْهِ، وَاخْلُفْ عَلَ كُلِّ غَائِبَةٍ لِّيْ بِخَيْرٍ
Allāhumma qanni’nī bimā razaqtanī wa bārik lī fih(i), wakhluf ‘ala kulli ghā’ibatin lī bi khayr.
O my Lord, make me content with what You have given me as sustenance, grant me blessings therein and grant me that which is better than what I have lost.
When passing the Mizab al-Rahmah, between the two corners, the Prophet ﷺ recited:
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الرَّاحَةَ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ وَالْعَفْوَ عِنْدَ الْحِسَابِ
Allāhumma innī as’aluka r-rāḥata ‘inda l-mawti wa l-‘afwa ‘inda l-ḥisābi.
O Allah, I ask You for comfort at the time of death and forgiveness at the time of reckoning.
During Tawaf
It is recorded in Ibn Majah that the following Duas may be read during Tawaf:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَفْوَ وَالْعَافِيَةَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ
Allāhumma innī as’aluka l-’afwa wa l-’āfīyata fi d-dunyā wa l-ākhirah.
O Allah, I ask You for forgiveness and safety in the worldly life and Hereafter.
سُبْحَان اللّٰهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ وَلآ اِلهَ اِلّا اللّهُ، وَاللّهُ اَكْبَرُ وَلا حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّة اِلَّا بِاللّهِ الْعَلِىّ الْعَظِيْم َ
Subḥāna llāhi wa l-ḥamdu lillāhi wa lā ilāha illa llāh(u), wa llāhu akbar(u), wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāhi l-’aliyyi l-’aẓīm.
Glory be to Allah. All Praise is due to Allah. There is no god besides Allah. Allah is the Greatest. There is no power or might except with Allah, the Most High and the Most Great.
Ihram is the clothing worn during the holy pilgrimage of Umrah and Hajj. Literally, Ihram means to enter into a state of purity and prohibition or to make something haram on ourselves for our good. Ihram for Umrah and Hajj is the first necessity of the pilgrimage. It is a state in which many things are forbidden. To enter into this state, certain rituals are to be performed by pilgrims
The Hajj and Umrah Ihram for ladies is very different as compared to men. Women can wear any ordinary dress for Umrah. They must cover their head but are forbidden to cover their faces. They are not allowed to wear burkha or niqab (an item of clothing used by Muslim women to cover their bodies) while in Ihram. A hijab (a cloth used by women in Islam to cover their hair) is mandatory. Their head dress must not cover their forehead. While in Ihram, women must not cut or trim nails or hair. Application of any type of fragrance or makeup is forbidden while being in Ihram.
This Niyyah is to be made if you’re performing Umrah during any time of the year, or Umrah as part of Hajj al-Tamattu. If you’re performing Hajj al-Tamattu, an intention for the Hajj will be made at a later stage.
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً
Labbayka llāhumma ‘umratan.
O Allah, here I am to perform Umrah.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أُرِيْدُ الْعُمْرَةَ
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-‘umrata.
O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أُرِيْدُ الْعُمْرَةَ فَيَسِّرْهَا لِيْ وَتَقَبَّلْهَا مِنِّيْ
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-‘umrata fa yassirhā lī wa taqabbalhā minnī.
O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah, so make it easy for me and accept it from me.
This Niyyah is to be made if you’re performing Hajj al-Qiran (Umrah and Hajj combined).
لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً وَ حَجًّا
Labbayka llāhumma ‘umratan wa ḥajjan.
O Allah, here I am to perform Umrah and Hajj.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أُرِيْدُ الْعُمْرَةَ وَ الْحَجَّ
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-’umrata wa l-ḥajja.
O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah and Hajj.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أُرِيْدُ الْعُمْرَةَ وَ الْحَجَّ فَيَسِّرْهُمَا لِيْ وَتَقَبَّلْهُمَا مِنِّيْ
Allāhumma innī urīdu l-’umrata wa l-ḥajja fayassirhumā lī wa taqabbalhumā minnī.
O Allah, I intend to perform Umrah and Hajj, so make them easy for me and accept them from me.
Niyyah with a Stipulation (Ishtirat)
If you feel that something may potentially hinder the performance of your Hajj or Umrah, such as illness, you can add the following stipulation to your Niyyah:
اللَّهُمَّ مَحِلِّي حَيْثُ حَبَسْتَنِي
Allāhumma maḥilli ḥaithu ḥabastani.
O Allah, I will exit Ihram from the point You have prevented me.
History of Zamzam Water
As narrated by Ibn ‘Abbaas, Prophet Ibrahim was ordered by Allah to take away his wife, Hagar and his son, Ismail to Makkah. During this time, Makkah was a barren land. Following the commands of Allah, the Prophet left his wife and son with some dates and water and returned home. After spending some time on this barren land, the dates and water ran out. As young Ismail started crying with thirst, Hagar started looking for water. She went running up and down seven times the hills of Safa and Marwa (that is why circumambulating the Kaaba seven times is an important ritual of Umrah and Hajj both). In this fretful state, young Ismail began kicking the ground. Suddenly, Hagar noticed water flowing out from the spot that Ismail was kicking. She carefully collected some water for herself and started feeding it to Ismail. The water that gushed out came to be known as the blessed water of Zamzam.
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