Secrets of Tawaf

Template:جعبه اطلاعات اعمالSecrets of Tawaf refers to the philosophical and mystical meanings and inner dimensions of the act of Tawaf around the Kaaba. Tawaf is one of the fundamental acts of Hajj and Umrah that holds a prominent place in the Quran and Sunnah, and its various dimensions have been explained in interpretive, hadith, and mystical sources. This collection of teachings is known as "Secrets of Tawaf." Sources that discuss the secrets of Hajj rituals have considered Tawaf to possess monotheistic, ethical, and mystical symbols and secrets.

Importance of Tawaf

Template:اصلیTawaf is the act of circumambulating the Kaaba seven times in Masjid al-Haram and is one of the acts of Hajj and Umrah. The Quran refers to Tawaf in Surah al-Hajj. In prophetic narrations and hadiths of the Ahl al-Bayt (a), the reward for Tawaf has been emphasized, and Tawaf has been considered a factor for God's pleasure, mercy, and forgiveness.

Monotheistic Secrets of Tawaf

In the view of many commentators and researchers, Tawaf is a manifestation of practical monotheism; a circular movement around a center that reminds believers of their sole destination, which is God.

Tawaf is considered a form of prayer and a movement towards closeness to God and detachment from others, which polishes the heart and familiarizes the soul with God. Its continuity is also a symbol of the servant's constant remembrance of God, and without this remembrance, the purpose of Tawaf is not achieved. Circumambulating the Kaaba also signifies love and affection for God and leads to His special attention to those performing Tawaf.

Ethical Secrets

Ethical and educational sources consider Tawaf a practice for cultivating spiritual values and a reminder of the humility of servants before the greatness of God. In this journey, the pilgrim detaches his heart from reliance on people and trusts only in God and seeks repentance and purity from sins from Him. The collective harmony of the pilgrims creates a manifestation of empathy and unity and the vast crowd and their movement evoke the remembrance of the Day of Judgment and the human journey from this world to the hereafter.

Symbols and Codes

In a mystical view, Tawaf symbolizes man's inner journey towards God, and each stage has its secrets. It is said that the Kaaba is an extension of Bayt al-Ma'mur and a representation of the Throne, and a proper Tawaf elevates the seeker to higher levels; by circumambulating the Kaaba, man resembles the angels circumambulating the Throne. At the same time, it has been pointed out that performing it in a crowd shows that religion prefers social presence over isolation.

The Secret of the Number Seven in Tawaf Rounds

Tawaf in all Islamic schools of thought consists of seven rounds, and philosophical, interpretive, and mystical sources have offered various explanations for the secret of this number. Some have considered it a sign of man's detachment from seven undesirable traits—vanity, arrogance, envy, greed, stinginess, anger, and lust—and their replacement with seven good qualities such as knowledge, wisdom, chastity, courage, justice, generosity, and humility.

On the other hand, the seven rounds of Tawaf refer to movement through the seven climes or the seven heavens and have similarities with the seven stages of prayer from standing to salutation. In some sources, this number has been linked to the seven thousand years of distance between angels and God during their protest against the creation of man. It has also been said that each round of Tawaf reminds one of attaining one of the seven inner meanings of the Quran and its interpretations.

The number seven in Tawaf is also consistent with other Hajj rituals; such as seven times Sa'i and seven pebbles for Ramy al-Jamarat. This harmony is also seen with the cosmic order: the Quran speaks of seven heavens and seven seas, Surah al-Fatiha is known as Sab' al-Mathani with seven verses, and a week also has seven days. Thus, the number seven in Tawaf is a symbol of cosmic order and the connection of worship with the structure of creation.Template:مدرک

Ultimately, seven rounds of Tawaf are considered to signify the completion of an act of worship and in mystical sources, it also refers to the seven stages of spiritual journey and human ranks.

Starting Tawaf from Hajar al-Aswad

Template:اصلیTemplate:اصلیIn narrations, Hajar al-Aswad is called "the hand of God on earth." Starting Tawaf from it is considered a sign of entering the sacred precinct of the House of God and renewing the covenant with the Lord, and touching this stone is making a covenant with God that the pilgrim will no longer commit sins.

Conditions and Etiquette

Template:اصلی Tawaf has its etiquette; including ghusl, humility, and entering the Mataf barefoot. Inner purity, presence of heart and supplication are considered other etiquettes and necessities of Tawaf.

See also

• Tawaf
• Salat al-Tawaf
• Secrets of Salat al-Tawaf

Sources

• Asrar Irfani Hajj (Mystical Secrets of Hajj), Mohammad Taqi Fa'ali, Tehran, Mash'ar, 1386 SH.
• Bihar al-Anwar, Mohammad Baqir al-Majlisi, corrected by Mohammad Baqir Behboudi and others, Beirut, Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi, 1403 AH.
• Pish Daramadi bar Farhangnameh Asrar va Ma'aref Hajj (An Introduction to the Encyclopedia of Secrets and Knowledge of Hajj), معاونت امور روحانیون (Deputy for Religious Affairs), Tehran, Mash'ar, 1387 SH.
• Jur'ei az Sahba-ye Hajj (A Sip from the Wine of Hajj), Abdullah Javadi Amoli, Tehran, Mash'ar, 1386 SH.
• Al-Hajj wa al-Umrah fi al-Kitab wa al-Sunnah (Hajj and Umrah in the Book and Sunnah), Mohammad Mohammadi Reyshahri, Qom, Dar al-Hadith, 1376 SH.
• Darsnameh Manasek Hajj (Textbook of Hajj Rituals), Mohammad Hossein Fallahzadeh, Tehran, Mash'ar, 1389 SH.
• Awali al-La'ali, Mohammad ibn Abi Jumhuri, Qom, Sayyid al-Shuhada, 1362 SH.
• Al-Mahajjat al-Bayda (The White Path), Fayz Kashani, Qom, Nashr Islami, 1417 AH.
• Mustadrak al-Wasa'il, Mirza Hossein Nouri, Qom, Mo'asseseh Aal al-Bayt, 1408 AH.Template:پایانTemplate:Hajj and Umrah