Question :
What is the ruling on offering the two rak`ahs of Tawaaf at Hijir Ismail ?
The Answer :
All praise be to Allah. Blessings and peace be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon his family and righteous companions: Praying at Hijir Ismail is permissible as it is a part of the House(The Kaba ). Abu Dawood narrated in” his Sunnan” that Aisha(May Allah be pleased with her) said: “ I liked to enter the House for offering prayer in it, but the Prophet (PBUH) took my hand and led me to the Hijir and said: “ Pray in the Hijir if you wanted to enter the House for the Hijir is a part of it. This is because when your people built the Kaba, the Hijir remained separated from it. As regards offering the two rak`ahs of the Tawaaf`s Sunnah, the Sunnah is to perform them behind Abraham`s (Mqam) station, so the latter is what separates the prayer performer from the Holy Kaba. Allah The Almighty says in this regard: “'Take to yourselves Abraham's station for a place of prayer.”{Al-Baqarah/125}. The same idea is confirmed in Jabir`s narration describing the Prophet`s Pilgrimage, and it reads: “ When we arrived at the House with him, he kissed the Black Stone Corner and did Ramal( fast walking ) in the first three rounds of Tawaaf, walked in the other four rounds, then headed towards Abraham`s station and recited: “'Take to yourselves Abraham's station for a place of prayer.”{Al-Baqarah/125}. Abraham`s station is what separated him from the House…the above narration “{Muslim}. In his commentary on Sahih Muslim, An-Nawawi said: “ Then he headed to Abraham`s station and recited: “'Take to yourselves Abraham's station for a place of prayer.”{Al-Baqarah/125}. The station of Abraham was between him and the House…. This is evidence on what the Muslim scholars had agreed upon i.e. each performer of Tawaaf should offer two rak`ahs behind Abraham`s station after finishing the Tawaaf. However, the Muslim scholars differed in opinion about the two Rak’ahs after Tawaaf whether they are a Sunnah or Waajib (i.e. an obligation) ? The most preponderant opinion is that it is a Sunnah…not offering them doesn`t invalidate his Tawaaf. The Sunnah is to pray them behind Abraham`s station, if not then at the Hijir, if not then at Al-Masjid Al-haraam, if not then in Mecca and the rest of the Haram area. Also, it is possible for him to offer these two rak`ahs while in his country, or in any other part of the world , but he will miss the virtue of praying at that sacred place.Moreover, He can offer these two rak`ahs during his life.” In conclusion, it is better to offer the two rak`ahs of Tawaaf behind Abraham`s station, if not possible then at the Hijir of Ismail. Anyways, his Tawaaf is valid. And Allah knows best.
