Question:

Assalamualaikum ustaz. What is the ruling of tawaf wada’ for umrah pilgrims who wanted to visit Taif? 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 Allah SWT’s statement:

وَلْيَطَّوَّفُوا بِالْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ

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

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

Tawaf Wada’

Regarding tawaf wada’, according to madhhab al-Syafi’I, it is obligatory as stated in a hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas R.Anhuma, he said:

كَانَ النَّاسُ يَنْصَرِفُونَ فِى كُلِّ وَجْهٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم :لاَ يَنْفِرَنَّ أَحَدٌ حَتَّى يَكُونَ آخِرُ عَهْدِهِ بِالْبَيْتِ

“The people were going in all directions, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘No one should depart until the last thing he does is (Tawaf around) the House.’” [3]

Imam al-Nawawi stated this hadith shows the obligation of tawaf wada’. If neglected, one will be fined with dam. This is the sahih opinion according to our madhhab (madhhab al-Syafi’i) and this is the opinion of the majority of scholars such as al-Hasan al-Basri, al-Thauri, Hammad, Abu Hanifah, Ahmad, Ishaq and Abu Thaur. While Malik, Daud and Ibn al-Munzir said that it is sunnah and dam isn’t fined for those who leave it. [4]

Dr Muhammad al-Zuhaili said that whoever wishes to leave Mecca and return back to his homeland or go to another place then it is obligated for him to perform tawaf wada’ (before exiting). Tawaf wada’ is not a part of the hajj or umrah manasik, but a form of worship on its own. [5]

Pilgrims visiting Taif from Mecca

Coming back to the question asked, there is an opinion from al-Baghawi which states that tawaf wada’ is obligatory for those who want to leave Mecca to a place whose distance permits qasar prayer. As for a distance less than that, it is not obligatory to perform tawaf wada’. However, according to Imam al-Nawawi, the sahih and famous opinion is for anyone who wants to leave Mecca to a place that permits qasar prayer (2 marhalah) or less than that, whether it is near or far, then it is obligatory for him to perform tawaf wada’. [6]

However, al-Nawawi also stated that it is not obligatory for a person who is residing in Mecca when he leaves for Tan’im to perform tawaf wada’ and he is fined with dam if they didn’t perform tawaf wada’. The evidence is the commandment of the Prophet PBUH who instructed ‘Abd al-Rahman to accompany Aisyah to went out for ihram at Tan’im and doesn’t asked them to first perform tawaf wada’. [7] Syeikh al-Islam Zakaria al-Ansari commented on this matter saying, this is for anyone who has a hajat (need) and will return. While what is stated in the book al-Majmu’ – that tawaf wada’ is obligated for anyone who is leaving Mecca to a destination with a distance that permits qasar prayer or less than that – for those who are leaving Mecca to a place less than two marhalah to return to his house or the place he is residing. [8]

Furthermore, Dr Muhammad al-Zuhaili stated that whoever leaves Mecca without performing tawaf wada’, then he is sinful and it is obligatory for him to return back to Mecca and perform the tawaf. If he turns back to Mecca before he travels more than the distance that permits qasar prayer, then he isn’t fined with dam. However, if he has travelled for more than the distance that permits qasar prayer, he is obligated to pay dam even when he has returned to Mecca to perform tawaf wada’. The same for those who forget to perform tawaf wada’ and left Mecca, he has to backtrack and perform it. If the distance is less than the distance that permits qasar prayer, then no fine is imposed on him and if not – if he has passed the distance that permits qasar prayer – then, dam is obligated for him even after he has performed tawaf wada’. [9]

Simply put, the people who are obligated to perform tawaf wada’ are:

• Those who are travelling leaving Mecca to a place with a distance that permits qasar prayer which is two marhalah.
• Those who are leaving Mecca and reside outside of the Holy Land, even if the distance is less than two marhalah.

Hence, whoever wants to leave Mecca with the purpose of visiting Ta’if (through any route) must perform tawaf wada’ for the distance is more than two marhalah. This is also the resolution decided in the 35th National Hajj Muzakarah.

Conclusion

According to the above discussion and arguments, we conclude the following matters:

• The people who are obligated to perform tawaf wada’ are divided into two; those who will travel and leave Mecca to a place with a distance that permits qasar prayer which is two marhalah such as returning to Medina or their own countries. Whilst, the second group of people are those who are leaving Mecca and reside outside of the Holy land, even if the distance is less than two marhalah such as returning to his house in Jeddah and others.
• As for those who want to leave Mecca at a distance of less than two marhalah and will immediately return because of a certain need or hajat such as going to Tan’im to set the intention for ihram or others, then it isn’t obligatory for him to perform tawaf wada’ and he isn’t imposed with dam for leaving it.
• Anyone who is leaving Mecca for the purpose of visiting Taif (through any route) is obligated to perform tawaf wada’ for the distance is more than 2 marhalah. This is as decided in the resolution in the 35th National Hajj Muzakarah.
• In our current time of COVID-19 and tight SOPs, in our opinion, the umrah pilgrims who want to go to Taif and return to Mecca are given a choice of whether or not they want to perform tawaf wada’. This is based on the current condition.

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

Wallahu a’lam.

[1] Surah al-Hajj: 29

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

[3] Narrated by Muslim (1327)

[4] See al-Minhaj Syarh Sahih Muslim, 9/79.

[5] See al-Mu‘tamad fi al-Fiqh al-Syafi‘i, 2/402.

[6] See al-Majmu‘ Syarh al-Muhazzab, 8/256.

[7] See al-Majmu‘ Syarh al-Muhazzab, 8/257.

[8] See Asna al-Matalib, 1/499-500.

[9] See al-Mu‘tamad fi al-Fiqh al-Syafi‘i, 2/402.