Question:

Assalamualaikum ustaz. Recently, I saw an influencer who was doing a live session when he was performing the tawaf. My question is what is the ruling of a person who performs tawaf as well as doing a live session through their smartphone? Hope for an explanation.

Answer:

Waalaikumussalam wrt. wbt.,

Alhamdulillah, praise and gratitude to Allah SWT for His countless blessings for us all. Praise and salutations to our beloved Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his family, companions, and all those who follow his footsteps until the Final day.

We begin with the statement of Allah SWT:

وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا بِالْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ

“And perform Tawaf around the ancient House,” [1]

Al-Syaukani said the tawaf meant in this verse is tawaf ifadhah. Kaaba is stated as “الْعَتِيقِ”, for Allah SWT frees it from the authority of the oppressors. There is another opinion that states it means an honour. [2]

Valid conditions for tawaf

Generally, a tawaf is considered valid when it fulfils all of its conditions. Among them are:

1. Valid conditions of tawaf are the same as the valid conditions of prayer which are, intention, pure from minor and major hadas, free from najis on one’s body, clothing or place of tawaf and covers the aurah.
2. During tawaf, any parts of the body are impermissible to enter the boundary of the Kaaba. Thus, one should perform tawaf outside of the Hijr Ismail area for it is also considered a part of the Kaaba area and it is impermissible to do tawaf inside of it.
3. Furthermore, tawaf must begin from Hajar Aswad with the Kaaba on the left side of the person. Whoever begins the tawaf before the line of Hajr Aswad, isn’t considered as tawaf until he arrives at the line again. Next, he has to complete all 7 times of his tawaf. [3]

Performing tawaf while at the same time doing a live session

There is a hadith from Ibn Abbas R.Anhuma, where the Prophet PBUH said:

الطَّوَافُ حَوْلَ البَيْتِ مِثْلُ الصَّلاَةِ ، إِلاَّ أَنَّكُمْ تَتَكَلَّمُونَ فِيهِ ، فَمَنْ تَكَلَّمَ فِيهِ فَلاَ يَتَكَلَّمَنَّ إِلاَّ بِخَيْرٍ

“The circumambulation of the House is like prayer, except that you speak while performing it; but he who speaks must speak only what is good.” [4]

Al-Amir al-San’ani stated that the tawaf is similar to prayer in terms of its rewards and the conditions of purification. Other than that, this hadith also shows that it is permissible for a person to talk with others when performing tawaf. As for words such as dhikrs during tawaf is sunnah. [5]

Moreover, Imam al-Syafi’I and the ashab are of the opinion that talking in tawaf is permissible. The act of talking doesn’t invalidate tawaf and isn’t also ruled as makruh. However, leaving the act of talking is prioritized except for good speech such as amar makruf nahi mungkar, teaching ignorant people, issuing fatwa (answering a question) or others. [6]

Not only that, Badruddin al-‘Aini cited Imam al-Syafi’I from the narration of Ibn Umar, where he said:

أَقِلُّوا الْكَلَامَ فِي الطَّوَافِ، فَإِنَّمَا أَنْتُم فِي صَلَاةِ

“Lessen speech in tawaf for indeed you’re in prayer.” [7]

Imam al-Tirmizi further added saying that it has been the practice of most scholars that they prefer if a person doesn’t talk when performing tawaf except if there is a necessity or dhikr to Allah or knowledge. [8]

Moreover, cited from Abu Umar from ‘Ata’ that he disliked talking while performing tawaf except if there is a need. The same for Mujahid who’d recite Quran in his tawaf. Imam al-Syafi’i said: “I prefer to recite the Quran in tawaf because it is the best of speech for people.” [9]

The same for the ruling of eating and drinking during tawaf is makruh. However, the makruh ruling for drinking is lighter. Even if this is so, tawaf isn’t invalidated by one of these two acts or even if both are done at the same time. Imam al-Syafi’i stated that it is fine to drink while performing tawaf and I don’t rule it makruh – not sinful – but I prefer if it is left for leaving it is better in terms of its manners.

Furthermore, a person performing tawaf should actually humble himself and ensure that his heart is present properly both outwardly and inwardly in every situation, action and what they see. The reason is tawaf is the same as prayer, hence be mindful of the manners and feel the greatness of Allah SWT in his heart. [10]

Conclusion

According to the above discussion, in our opinion, performing tawaf while at the same time doing a live session is makruh and should be avoided because it distracts the attention of the person recording who should focus on the worship of tawaf. Moreover, the act could also disturb the other congregants who are also performing tawaf.

The time for tawaf should actually be the time for worship where one should focus his attention on worships such as dhikrs, supplication, recitation of the Quran, praise and salutations of the Prophet PBUH, feeling the greatness of Allah SWT in his heart and others.

May Allah SWT grant us all a clear understanding in practising this religion. Amin.

Wallahu a’lam.

[1] Surah al-Hajj: 29

[2] See Zubdah al-Tafasir min Fath al-Qadir oleh al-Asyqar, pg. 437.

[3] See al-Fiqh al-Manhaji, 2/141

[4] Narrated by al-Tirmizi (960)

[5] See al-Tanwir Syarh al-Jami‘ al-Saghir, 7/183

[6] See al-Majmu‘ Syarh al-Muhazzab, 8/46

[7] See ‘Umdah al-Qari, 9/263

[8] See Sunan al-Tirmizi, 2/285.

[9] See ‘Umdah al-Qari, 9/263

[10] See al-Majmu‘ Syarh al-Muhazzab, 8/46