Entering Makkah and Performing Ṭawāf: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide for Hajj & ‘Umrah Pilgrims

Entering Makkah

Anyway, enter the limits of Ḥaram with your head bowed and eyes lowered with humility and shame for all the sins committed. Recite Ṣalāt-'Alan-Nabī and Labbayk and do Ẓikr in abundance. As soon as you glance at the sacred city of Makka-tul-Mukarramah of Rab-bul-'Ālamīn, recite the following Du'ā:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْ لِيْ قَرَارًا وَارْزُقْنِيْ فِيْهَا رِزْقًا حَلَالًا

Yā Allah ﷻ! Bestow upon me peace and Ḥalāl sustenance in it.

After reaching Makka-tul-Mukarramah, make arrangements for accommodation and keep luggage etc. at a safe place. Then, come to Bāb-us-Salām reciting Labbayk. Kiss the holy door and enter Masjid-ul-Ḥarām placing your right foot first and reciting the Du'ā of entering the Masjid that is as follows:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ وَ السَّلَامُ عَلٰى رَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ ۔ اَللّٰهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِيْ اَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ

Translation: Allah ﷻ in Whose name I begin and salutations on the Beloved Rasūl ﷺ. Yā Allah ﷻ, open the portals of Your mercy for me.

Make intention of I'tikāf

Make it a routine to make the intention of I'tikāf whenever you enter any Masjid. Also do so in Masjid-ul-Ḥarām. One good deed here is equivalent to a hundred thousand deeds performed elsewhere.

نَوَيْتُ سُنَّتَ الْاِعْتِكَافَ

I make the intention of Sunnah of I'tikāf.

Hence one will get the reward of a hundred thousand I'tikāf. You will get the reward for as long as you stay in the Masjid. In addition, acts of eating, drinking water including Zamzam water and sleeping will also become permissible; otherwise these acts are impermissible in the Masjid according to Sharī'ah.

First sight at Holy Ka'bah

As soon as you have the first glance of the Holy Ka'bah, recite the following thrice:

لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَاللّٰهُ اَكْبَرُ

Then, recite Ṣalāt-'Alan-Nabī and make Du'ā as the Du'ā made on having the first glance of the Holy Ka'bah is definitely accepted. You may also make this Du'ā: 'Yā Allah ﷻ, whenever I make permissible Du'ā that is beneficial to me, accept it.' 'Allāmah Shāmī has quoted Islamic jurists to have stated: When having the first glance of the Ka'bah, one should make Du'ā to be blessed with entry into Paradise without accountability, and should recite Ṣalāt-'Alan-Nabī.

(Rad-ul-Muḥtār, vol. 3, pp. 575)

Most virtuous Dua

Respected devotees of Rasūl and seekers of the pleasure of Allah ﷻ and His Prophet ﷺ! Instead of reciting different specific Du'ās, it is the most virtuous act to recite Ṣalāt-'Alan-Nabī on every occasion like during Ṭawāf, Sa'ī, etc. All of your problems will be resolved by virtue of Ṣalāt and Salām. You should do what is better than all Du'ās for you, as promised by the Holy Prophet ﷺ. That is, recite Ṣalāt-'Alan-Nabī here and on any other occasion instead of making Du'ā for you. The Prophet of Raḥmah, the Intercessor of Ummah ﷺ has stated, 'If you do so, Allah ﷻ will resolve all your problems and forgive all your sins.'

(Tirmiżī, vol. 4, pp. 207, Ḥadīš 2465; Fatāwā Razawiyyah, vol. 10, pp. 740)

Halting for Du'ā during Ṭawāf is forbidden

Respected pilgrims! If possible, recite only Ṣalāt and Salām as it is the most virtuous invocation in addition to being easier to be recited. However, Du'ās are also given for those who are keen to recite them. But remember that whether you recite Ṣalāt and Salām or Du'ās, recite them in a low voice. Some Ṭawāf-performing people recite Du'ās aloud like shouting. You should avoid it. Furthermore, recite it whilst walking. Do not halt during Ṭawāf for reciting anything.

Method of Ṭawāf

Before commencing Ṭawāf, men should do Iḍṭibā', i.e. put on the shawl by bringing its one end from under the armpit of the right hand and placing its both ends over the left shoulder such that the right shoulder remains uncovered. You are now ready for Ṭawāf of the Holy Ka'bah.

Now in the state of Iḍṭibā', stand up facing the Holy Ka'bah such that the whole 'Ḥajar-ul-Aswad' will be pointing towards your right side. Now make intention¹ for Ṭawāf in the following words without raising the hands:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّیْ اُرِیْدُ طَوَافَ بِبَیْتِکَ الْحَرَامِ فَیَسِّرْہُ لِیْ وَ تَقَبَّلْہُ مِنِّیْ

Yā Allah ﷻ! I make intention for Ṭawāf of Your sacred House. Make it easier for me and accept it from me.

After making the intention, whilst facing the Holy Ka'bah, move a little towards your right so that Ḥajar-ul-Aswad is right in front of you. (This would happen after a slight movement of yours. Now Ḥajar-ul-Aswad is exactly in front of you. Its sign is that the green tube light fixed on the pillar standing afar will be exactly behind your back.)

سُبْحٰنَ اللّٰہ عَزَّوَجَلَّ! This is that lucky heavenly stone which has certainly been kissed by our Beloved Rasūl ﷺ. Now raise both hands such that both palms (of hands) face the direction of Ḥajar-ul-Aswad and recite the following:

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ وَ اللّٰہُ اَکْبَرُ وَ الصَّلٰوۃُ وَ السَّلَامُ عَلٰی رَسُوْلِ اللّٰہِ

Translation: Allah ﷻ in Whose name I begin and all glorifications are for Allah ﷻ and Allah ﷻ is the Greatest and Ṣalāt & Salām be on the Beloved Rasūl ﷺ.

Now, if possible, place both palms on Ḥajar-ul-Aswad and kiss it in between your palms without producing any sound. Do this thrice. سُبْحٰنَ اللّٰہ عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Be delighted with the thought that your lips have kissed that sacred stone which has certainly been touched by the blessed lips of our Beloved Rasūl ﷺ. Get ecstatic and overjoyed! Let tears flow as this is also a Sunnah. Sayyidunā 'Abdullāh Ibn 'Umar رَضِیَ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُمَا has narrated, 'Keeping his sacred lips on Ḥajar-ul-Aswad our Beloved and Blessed Prophet ﷺ kept on weeping. He ﷺ then turned and noticed that Sayyidunā 'Umar رَضِیَ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ was also weeping. Our Holy Prophet ﷺ said, 'Certainly it is an occasion of weeping and shedding tears.'

(Ibn Mājah, vol. 3, pp. 434, Ḥadīš 2945)

Take care that you do not push anybody as this is not a place to display your strength but rather it is an occasion to express humility and humbleness. If it is difficult for you to kiss Ḥajar-ul-Aswad due to the crowd, then neither cause discomfort to others nor get stuck in the crowd. Instead, point your palm towards it and then kiss your hand. Even this is a great privilege to have a glance at the spot which has been kissed by the Beloved and Blessed Prophet ﷺ.

To kiss Ḥajar-ul-Aswad or to kiss your hand or a stick having touched it to Ḥajar-ul-Aswad or to kiss your hand having pointed your palms towards Ḥajar-ul-Aswad is called Istilām.

The Holy Prophet ﷺ has stated, 'On the Day of Judgement, this stone will be raised with eyes whereby it will see, and with the tongue whereby it will speak, and will give evidence for the one who kissed it with the truth.'

(Tirmiżī, vol. 2, pp. 286, Ḥadīš 963)

اَللّٰہُمَّ اِیْمَانًا بِکَ وَ اتِّبَاعًا لِسُنَّۃِ نَبِیِّکَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَسَلَّمَ

Translation: O Almighty! I have believed You and I am going to perform Ṭawāf following the Sunnah of Your Prophet ﷺ.

Now whilst facing the Holy Ka'bah, move a little towards your right so that Ḥajar-ul-Aswad is not in front of your face (and this would happen after a slight movement of yours towards right). Then, immediately turn rightward such that the Holy Ka'bah is on your left side. Now walk with care so that no one is bumped by you.

Men should perform Raml during the first three rounds, i.e. walk briskly with small steps whilst moving the shoulders like strong and brave people. Some people perform it by jumping and running, this is not a Sunnah. Raml may be discontinued on crowded spots or when it is painful for you or for others but do not halt for Raml; continue with Ṭawāf. As soon as you get a chance to do Raml, do it.