Hajj is mandatory for every Muslim (male or female) if he/she has the capability to perform it. While Umrah is not mandatory for Muslims. Umrah can be performed at any time of year, but Hajj can be performed at the fixed time of year which comes at the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The name of last month is Dhul Hijja.
If you go to perform Hajj then you should know about all rituals, which are very important for you, therefore, you should go to any trustable travel agency, so that, it will provide best services, which are included in your Hajj and Umrah Packages.
A very important rite of Hajj and Umrah is Tawaf and in the Arabic language, its mean literally going about. Pilgrims perform this right, walk around the Kaaba (House of Allah) seven times in the direction of anticlockwise. Pilgrims start their circumambulating around the Kaaba from the point of Black Stone (Hajjre Aswad). All rites of Hajj are very important but we briefly discuss How to perform a Tawaf and Types of Tawaf here.
How to Perform a Tawaf:
During the Hajj and Umrah, You walk around the Kaaba 7-times in direction of anticlockwise. Your first circle start from the Hajjre Aswad, which is fit on the corner of Kaaba.
There is a lot of crowds of Pilgrims during the Tawaf, if it is possible for you, then you should start your first circuit around the Kaaba, after the touch and kiss of Hajjre Aswad. You should repeat this activity after completing each circuit.
But if It is not possible for you, then you can start your every circuit, to simply point or hold up your hand to the Hajjre Aswad on each circuit.
For male, it is suggested, to do the 1st three circuits in a hurried pace, and other 4 circuits in a leisurely pace.
After completing the 7-circuits, you should offer two rakts (nafls) in front of Maqam e Ibrahim and then you should drink water (Zamzam). So in this way, you will complete this great rite of Hajj and Umrah.
Types of Tawaf:
There are seven types of Tawaf which names are:
1: Tawaf al-Qudum
2: Tawaf al-Ziayarh
3: Tawaf al-Wadaa
4: Tawaf al-Nafl
5: Tawaf al-Umrah
6: Tawaf al-Nazr
7: Tawaf al-Tahiyaah
Tawaf al-Qudum:
When a Muslim arrives at the city of Makkah in any reason such as Umrah, Hajj, visit, and business, then he/she can perform it. You can understand such as A Welcome Tawaf. It is Sunnah for those Muslims who are not residents of the city of Makkah and who performs Hajj Qiraan or Hajj Ifraad. But it is not Sunnah for those Muslims who are performing Umrah or Hajj Tammatu even if they are resident of the city of Makkah.
As a Hadith in Al-Bukhari in which Hazrat Ayesha (RA) stated:
“The first thing Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) did on reaching Makkah, was the ablution and then He (PBUH) performed Tawaf of the Kaaba and that was not Umrah but Hajj e Qiran”.
Tawaf al-Ziayarh:
Tawaf al-Ziyarah is also called Tawaf al-Hajj or Tawaf al-Rukn. It is an essential Tawaf for any Muslim who is performing any type of Hajj. If any pilgrim does not perform it for the given period of the timeframe during Hajj days, so his/her Hajj will be invalid. The time of this Tawaf when you can perform it is from dawn of 10th Dhul Hijja to 12th Dhul Hijja.
Tawaf al-Wadaa:
It is also called Tawaf e Sadr and it is a farewell Tawaf or final Tawaf. It is performed before leaving the Makkah. It is the last ritual of Hajj but it is not mandatory, it is wajib (less mandatory than Fard).
Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said:
“Let none of you leave Makkah before making a Tawaf around the Kaaba, as the last ritual of Hajj”.
Tawaf al-Nafl:
It is an optional Tawaf but there are great rewards for those who perform it, and it is a great opportunity for those people who live in the city of Makkah or Saudi Arabia. The residents of Makkah and Saudi Arabia perform it any time of year.
Tawaf al-Umrah:
It is an essential part of Umrah if one does not perform it then his/her Umrah will be invalid. It is the 2nd part of Umrah. Umrah is a lesser pilgrimage but it is a little bit expensive for everyone these days. There is the best way for you if you want to perform the Umrah then you should select a Package from different Cheap Umrah Packages 2022 which is best for you.
Tawaf al-Nazr:
We often promise to Allah that if we get and success in anything then we offer some religious duty. Similarly, if you promise to Allah for performing Tawaf and if your desire is fulfilled by Allah (S.W.T) then this type of Tawaf is known as Tawaf al-Nazr.
Tawaf al-Tahiyaah:
When a person enters in Al-Haram then he/she can perform it and it is Mustahib.
Tawaf is a great part of Hajj and Umrah activities and it goes back to the time of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and Hazrat Ismail (AS). Allah is so merciful, who gives an opportunity to get the rewards by performing the Tawaf, although, we are resident of Saudi Arabia or any other country. We should visit the site of Kaaba and we should feel that how over beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) performed his Tawaf during the four Umrah and one Hajj.
