One of the most important major ceremonies of pilgrimage (Umrah or the Hajj) is tawaf. When someone does tawaf, they circle the Holy Kaaba seven times anticlockwise and offer two rakahs of prayer behind the Station of Ibrahim (Maqam Ibrahim). Every traveler must go around the Kabba since it represents the unity of believers in Allah and their prayer to Him. When we enter the Sacred Mosque, or Kaaba, we give a salute known as tawaf. When doing Tawaf around the Kabba, it is customary to begin at the Black Stone and finish once a person is back at, or parallel to, that stone.
Furthermore, going around the Kabba seven times signifies that you performed one tawaf. Muslim pilgrims choose the best Umrah packages. Therefore, you are free to do as many Tawaf as you choose, but you must first make the Niyat of Nafil Tawaf. You are also free to conduct Tawaf in your regular clothing or on behalf of anyone, living or dead.
Tawaf Definition:
The Arabic term "tauf, which in English means to circle repeatedly, is the root of the word tawaf. Tawaf means "to walk around" or "to encircle something" in its literal sense. Tawaf, or making seven anticlockwise circles around the Holy Kabbah, is what is done in this manner.
How many Tawafs are there in Umrah?
There aren't many, but the only tawaf in Umrah that is required is tawaf-al-Umrah. Your Umrah is invalid if you didn't execute it according to the guidelines. Tawaf is going around Kabbah seven times by himself, going the other way from the clock. Before beginning Sa'i (walking between the hills of Safa and Marwah as part of the rite of Umrah), a pilgrim is allowed to do as many Tawaf as they like. It is considered that one individual can make the Umrah on behalf of another who is either deceased or not currently in Makkah.
Tawaf variations:
Masjid al Haram is a place where these many Tawaf variations can be done.
• Tawaf-al-Umrah
• Tawaf-al-Ziyarah or Hajj
• Tawaf-al-Qudoom
• Tawaf-al-Widaa
• Nafal Tawaf
Conditions of Tawaf-al-Umrah:
Before beginning Tawaf, you must determine whether or not you meet the requirements of Tawaf.
• He or she had to have covered their bodies according to Islamic law.
• The pilgrim needs to be in ihram.
• Hateem is a part of Tawaf, which must be performed in an anticlockwise motion beginning from the right side.
• Tawaf must be completed by the pilgrim, if you can do Tawaf without assistance, you should.
• During Tawaf, one need to be in Wudu condition.
• From the black stone, pilgrims should begin the Tawaf.
How Should Tawaf-al-Umrah Be Performed?
1. Making wazu (ablution) is the first order of business in Tawaf.
2. The required dress for Tawaf is known as Ihram for all pilgrims.
3. Then the traveler should visit the Mataaf, which is the area around the Kabbah where Muslims perform Tawaf in Makkah.
4. The Niyat (intention) should be made in front of Hajre-Aswad. In order to kiss the stone, one must face Hajre-Aswad after performing the niyat and reciting Takbir (Allahu-Akbar). After that, he or she should begin circling the Kabbah anticlockwise. This is the method by which one should do seven circles on foot. The Tawaf must be performed in a single sitting, and the pilgrim shouldn't go until all seven rounds have been performed.
5. The pilgrims must stand in Al-Masjid Al-Haram and offer two rakats of prayer once the seven rounds are finished. If you can't locate a space to perform this prayer at Maqam-e-Ibrahim, you can perform it anywhere in the mosque.
6. They must then recite the dua while consuming water from the Zamzam.