When the Prophet offered his pilgrimage, he said to his companions: “Learn your pilgrimage rituals from me.” He thus indicated that the pilgrimage, and all its duties and recommended practices, should be done as he did them at the time. He did the tawaf seven times, and this is how Muslims have been doing ever since.
Tawaf is a fundamental and integral ritual of performing Umrah or Hajj, which involves circling the Kaaba in a counter-clockwise direction seven times. It is a symbolic act of worship that signifies the unity of the Muslim community and the submission to the will of Allah.
The hajj traditionally begins in Mecca, with a smaller “umrah” pilgrimage which can be performed year-round. To perform the umrah, Muslims circle the Kaaba counter-clockwise seven times while reciting supplications to God, then walk between the two hills traveled by Hagar.
During Sa'i, the distance between Safa and Marwah is approximately 450 metres, with seven circuits amounting to approximately 3.15 kilometres, taking about 35 to 40 minutes to complete.
Upon arriving in Mecca, pilgrims gather in the courtyard of the Masjid al-Haram around the Kaaba. They then circumambulate (tawaf in Arabic) or walk around the Kaaba, during which they hope to kiss and touch the Black Stone (al-Hajar al-Aswad), embedded in the eastern corner of the Kaaba.
The Koran, Islam's holy book, tells Muslims - men and women - to dress modestly. Male modesty has been interpreted to be covering the area from the navel to the knee. For women it is generally seen as covering everything except their face, hands and feet when in the presence of men they are not related or married to.
Every Muslim who makes the pilgrimage is required to walk around the Kaaba seven times, during which he or she kisses and touches the Black Stone.
Kissing the Black Stone
As the cornerstone of the Kaaba, the Black Stone is the most venerated stone on the face of the earth. Muslims wish to kiss it because the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) did so.
In Mecca, only Muslims are allowed, while non-Muslims may not enter or pass through. Attempting to enter Mecca as a non-Muslim can result in penalties such as a fine; being in Mecca as a non-Muslim can result in deportation.
In theory, any Muslim can enter the Kaaba. But only those who are authorized by the guardians of the monument, the Al-Shaibi family who have held the only key for 15 centuries, have this privilege.
The Bani Shaiba or the sons of Shaiba are the tribe that hold the keys to the Kaaba today. They are in charge of the 'Sudnah' of the Kaaba which means the complete care of it including opening and closing it, cleaning and washing it, and caring for its Kiswah or cladding.
It has been described variously as basalt stone, an agate, a piece of natural glass or—most popularly—a stony meteorite.
The pre-Islamic Kaaba housed the Black Stone and statues of pagan gods. Muhammad reportedly cleansed the Kaaba of idols upon his victorious return to Mecca, returning the shrine to the monotheism of Ibrahim. The Black Stone is believed to have been given to Ibrahim by the angel Gabriel and is revered by Muslims.
Having said that, the purpose of Tawaf is to represent the notion that our lives should revolve around remembering and staying obedient to Allah Ta'ala. By performing Tawaf, we reinforce the centrality of the spiritual focus that we face while performing the daily prayers.
Whomsoever makes 50 Tawafs of the Kaaba (ie. fifty by seven rounds), will be free of all his sins, just as the day his mother gave birth to him.
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 Shawt (circuit). Stand just before this starting point facing the Kaaba ensuring the Hajar al-Aswad is on your right side.
In normative jurisprudential law, menstruating women are obliged to stay in Mecca and fulfil this rite only after returning to ritual purity.
According to public forum Quora, some argue that non-Muslims are not allowed in Mecca because it is a holy sanctuary. 2. Others say that one has to qualify certain requirements to be there adding that Mosques or holy places are reserved for meditation and usually have basic requirements for entry.
The Bani Shaiba Quraysh (Arabic: بني شيبه, lit. 'the sons of Shaiba') are an Arab tribe that hold the keys to the Kaaba.
Armstrong further says that the Kaaba was thought to be at the center of the world, with the Gate of Heaven directly above it.
Since Abraham built al-Ka'ba and called for Hajj 5,000 years ago, its doors have been of interest to kings and rulers throughout the history of Mecca. Historians say that when it was first built, the Kaaba had no door or roof and was simply made of walls.
All agree that the Kaba was either built or rebuilt by Prophet Abraham.
We must bathe at least once a day and we must do Wudu before our prayers. We should also wash and dry ourselves properly everytime we use the toilet and remember to wash and clean our hands. We know how easily germs spread from our very own hands to our bodies as well as to other people.
Allah is the standard Arabic word for God and is used by Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews as well as by Muslims.
The qibla is the direction Muslims face when praying toward the Ka'ba in Mecca. The qibla wall is the wall in a mosque that faces Mecca.