The Tawaf Prayer

Upon completion of the Umrah tawaf, it is obligatory to recite two rakah of prayer similar to the morning prayer.

Based on the ahwat, the prayer should be performed immediately after tawaf.

It is obligatory to perform this prayer at Maqam Ibrahim. It is wajib to offer this prayer behind the Maqam such that the Maqam would stand between him and the Kabah. He should stand as close to the Maqam as possible, provided that he does not disturb others.

If due to overcrowding he cannot stand behind Maqam Ibrahim, he should stand at any point that would be considered as the Maqam’s back even, if it were far away. Possibly then the prayer would be correct in any part of the Masjid al-Haram.

If he forgets to perform the obligatory prayer of the tawaf, he should offer it at the Maqam Ibrahim's back whenever he remembers it.

If he forgets to perform the tawaf prayer and realises this while engaged in say between Safa and Marwah, he should stop the say at that very point, return, offer two rakah of prayer, and then complete the say from where he left off.

The person who has forgotten to perform the tawaf prayer should return to the Masjid al- Haram if he has not gone far away from Makkah and if he does not face any problems in returning to the Masjid al-Haram. Then he should offer his prayer. If he has gone far away from Makkah and if returning to the Masjid al-Haram causes him trouble, he should offer his prayer wherever he realises that he has not already performed it.

The same prayer precepts mentioned for forgetfulness apply to those ignorant of the rites of tawaf prayer.

Tawaf prayer should be performed behind the Maqam Ibrahim and not on both sides of it.

Deliberate abandoning tawaf prayer invalidates the Hajj.

Question 1: Is it possible to perform other mustahabb prayer or acts of worship between tawaf and its prayer? What about congregation prayer?

Answer: It is obligatory to perform tawaf and it’s prayer consecutively. But an interval is to be taken as commonly understood such as the interval for nafelah prayers after offering the daily prayers.

Question 2: Could one perform the obligatory prayer of the tawaf simultaneous with the daily congregation prayer?

Answer: The legitimacy of reciting the tawaf prayer in congregation has not been prescribed.

Question 3: Can ghayr ul-mahram men and women stand behind Maqam Ibrahim to perform the tawaf prayer?

Answer: There is no problem if there is one wajib space between them or if the men stand a little ahead of the women.