Performing Tawaf and Touching the Corners

طُفْ بِالْبَيْتِ سَبْعَةَ أَشْوَاطٍ وَ تَقُولُ فِي الطَّوَافِ- اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الَّذِي يُمْشَى بِهِ عَلَى طَلَلِ الْمَاءِ كَمَا يُمْشَى بِهِ عَلَى جَدَدِ الْأَرْضِ‌[4] وَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الَّذِي يَهْتَزُّ لَهُ عَرْشُكَ وَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الَّذِي تَهْتَزُّ لَهُ أَقْدَامُ مَلَائِكَتِكَ وَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِاسْمِكَ الَّذِي دَعَاكَ بِهِ مُوسَى مِنْ جَانِبِ الطُّورِ فَاسْتَجَبْتَ لَهُ وَ أَلْقَ

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that one must walk seven times around the Ka'bah. During Tawaf, one should say, ‘O Allah, I appeal before You through Your name by which one walks on water just as one walks on hard land. I appeal before You through Your name for which Your Throne vibrates. I appeal before You through

قَالَ لِي أَبِي‌ كَانَ أَبِي ع إِذَا اسْتَقْبَلَ الْمِيزَابَ قَالَ- اللَّهُمَّ أَعْتِقْ رَقَبَتِي مِنَ النَّارِ وَ أَوْسِعْ عَلَيَّ مِنْ رِزْقِكَ الْحَلَالِ وَ ادْرَأْ عَنِّي شَرَّ فَسَقَةِ الْجِنِّ وَ الْإِنْسِ وَ أَدْخِلْنِي الْجَنَّةَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ.

“Al-Shaykh (a.s.), once said to me, £ My father (a.s.), when facing al-Mizab would say, “O Allah, set my neck free from hellfire, increase my sustenance of the lawful kind and repel from me the wickedness of al-Jinn and man, and admit me in paradise through Your kindness’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع دَخَلْتُ طَوَافَ الْفَرِيضَةِ فَلَمْ يُفْتَحْ لِي شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنَ الدُّعَاءِ إِلَّا الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ سَعَيْتُ فَكَانَ كَذَلِكَ فَقَالَ مَا أُعْطِيَ أَحَدٌ مِمَّنْ سَأَلَ أَفْضَلَ مِمَّا أُعْطِيتَ.

“I once said to Abu `Abdillah (a.s.), 'I began my obligatory Tawaf but did not know any prayer to say except the prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad. During Sa'y I also said that.' He (the Imam) said, 'No one among those who ask is given what you have been given.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا أَقُولُ إِذَا اسْتَقْبَلْتُ الْحَجَرَ فَقَالَ كَبِّرْ وَ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ قَالَ وَ سَمِعْتُهُ إِذَا أَتَى الْحَجَرَ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ السَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص.

“I once asked Abu `Abd Allah (a.s.), 'What should I say when I face the Black Stone?’ He (the Imam) replied, 'Say Takbir (Allah is great beyond description) and say O Allah, grant salawat (favors and compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause).’ I also heard him when going near the B

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع إِذَا بَلَغَ الْحِجْرَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَبْلُغَ الْمِيزَابَ يَرْفَعُ رَأْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ- اللَّهُمَّ أَدْخِلْنِي الْجَنَّةَ بِرَحْمَتِكَ وَ هُوَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى الْمِيزَابِ وَ أَجِرْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَ عَافِنِي مِنَ السُّقْمِ وَ أَوْسِعْ عَلَيَّ مِنَ الرِّزْقِ الْحَلَالِ وَ ادْرَأْ عَنِّي شَرَّ فَسَقَةِ الْجِنِّ وَ الْإِنْسِ وَ شَرَّ فَسَقَةِ الْعَرَبِ وَ الْعَجَمِ.

5. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from ‘Umar ibn ‘Asem who has said the following: “Abu `Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said that when Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, would go near the Black Stone, before reaching al-Mizab, raise his head and say, £ 0 Allah, admit me in paradise

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ لَمَّا انْتَهَى إِلَى ظَهْرِ الْكَعْبَةِ حِينَ يَجُوزُ الْحِجْرَ- يَا ذَا الْمَنِّ وَ الطَّوْلِ وَ الْجُودِ وَ الْكَرَمِ إِنَّ عَمَلِي ضَعِيفٌ فَضَاعِفْهُ لِي وَ تَقَبَّلْهُ مِنِّي‌ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ*.

“I heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), when reaching at the backside of al-Ka‘bah after passing the Black Stone, say, ‘O Possessor of munificence, generosity and kindness, my deeds are weak, so increase them and accept them from me; You are all-Hearing and all-Knowing/”

يُسْتَحَبُّ أَنْ تَقُولَ بَيْنَ الرُّكْنِ وَ الْحَجَرِ- اللَّهُمَ‌ آتِنا فِي الدُّنْيا حَسَنَةً وَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَ قِنا عَذابَ النَّارِ وَ قَالَ إِنَّ مَلَكاً مُوَكَّلًا يَقُولُ آمِينَ.

‘O Allah, grant us goodness in this world as well as in the next life and protect us against hellfire/ He (the Imam) said, ‘The two guard angels will say, “Amen.’””

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَا يَسْتَلِمُ إِلَّا الرُّكْنَ الْأَسْوَدَ وَ الْيَمَانِيَّ ثُمَّ يُقَبِّلُهُمَا وَ يَضَعُ خَدَّهُ عَلَيْهِمَا وَ رَأَيْتُ أَبِي يَفْعَلُهُ.

the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause,’ would not touch anything except the corner of the Black Stone and al-Yemaniy corner. He (the Messenger of Allah) kissed them and placed his cheek against them and I saw my father also did so.’”

كُنْتُ أَطُوفُ بِالْبَيْتِ فَإِذَا رَجُلٌ يَقُولُ مَا بَالُ هَذَيْنِ الرُّكْنَيْنِ يُسْتَلَمَانِ وَ لَا يُسْتَلَمُ هَذَانِ‌[1] فَقُلْتُ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص اسْتَلَمَ هَذَيْنِ وَ لَمْ يَعْرِضْ لِهَذَيْنِ فَلَا تَعْرِضْ لَهُمَا إِذَا لَمْ يَعْرِضْ لَهُمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قَالَ جَمِيلٌ وَ رَأَيْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَسْتَلِمُ الْأَرْكَانَ كُلَّهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said. ‘Once I was performing Tawaf when I heard a man say, “Why is it that these two corners are touched and these two are not touched?” I said, “The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, touched these two and did n

كُنْتُ أَطُوفُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ كَانَ إِذَا انْتَهَى إِلَى الْحَجَرِ مَسَحَهُ بِيَدِهِ وَ قَبَّلَهُ وَ إِذَا انْتَهَى إِلَى الرُّكْنِ الْيَمَانِيِّ الْتَزَمَهُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ تَمْسَحُ الْحَجَرَ بِيَدِكَ وَ تَلْتَزِمُ الْيَمَانِيَّ فَقَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص مَا أَتَيْتُ الرُّكْنَ الْيَمَانِيَّ إِلَّا وَجَدْتُ جَبْرَئِيلَ قَدْ سَبَقَنِي إِلَيْهِ يَلْتَزِمُهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Once I was performing Tawaf with my father (a.s.), and when he reached the Black Stone he touched it with his hand and kissed. When he reached al-Yemaniy corner he held it (with his hands). I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, how is it that you tou

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَكَّلَ بِالرُّكْنِ الْيَمَانِيِّ مَلَكاً هِجِّيراً يُؤَمِّنُ عَلَى دُعَائِكُمْ.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, has assigned a Hijjir (persistent in doing something) angel on al-Yemaniy corner who says ‘Amen’ when you pray to Allah.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ مَلَكاً مُوَكَّلًا بِالرُّكْنِ الْيَمَانِيِّ مُنْذُ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرَضِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ هِجِّيرٌ إِلَّا التَّأْمِينَ عَلَى دُعَائِكُمْ فَلْيَنْظُرْ عَبْدٌ بِمَا يَدْعُو فَقُلْتُ لَهُ مَا الْهِجِّيرُ فَقَالَ كَلَامٌ مِنْ كَلَامِ الْعَرَبِ أَيْ لَيْسَ لَهُ عَمَلٌ وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى لَيْسَ لَهُ عَمَلٌ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ.

“I once heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘There is an angel assigned on al-Yemaniy corner from the time Allah created the heavens and the earth. This angel has no Hijjir except saying, ‘Amen’ for your prayers, so a servant of Allah should consider what to appeal for in his prayer.’ I (the narrator) then asked, ‘What

الرُّكْنُ الْيَمَانِيُّ بَابٌ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ لَمْ يُغْلِقْهُ اللَّهُ مُنْذُ فَتَحَهُ وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى بَابُنَا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ الَّذِي مِنْهُ نَدْخُلُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that al-Yemaniy corner is a door of the doors of paradise. Allah has not closed it from the day He opened it.” In another Hadith it says, “It is our door to paradise through which we enter.”

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع أَطُوفُ فَكَانَ لَا يَمُرُّ فِي طَوَافٍ مِنْ طَوَافِهِ- بِالرُّكْنِ الْيَمَانِيِّ إِلَّا اسْتَلَمَهُ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اللَّهُمَّ تُبْ عَلَيَّ حَتَّى أَتُوبَ وَ اعْصِمْنِي حَتَّى لَا أَعُودَ.

‘O Lord, forgive and turn to me so I repent and protect me so I will not repeat.’” NOTE:This Hadith is best explained through the Fatwas.

كُنْتُ أَطُوفُ مَعَهُ بِالْبَيْتِ فَقَالَ أَيُّ هَذَا أَعْظَمُ حُرْمَةً فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِهَذَا مِنِّي فَأَعَادَ عَلَيَّ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ دَاخِلُ الْبَيْتِ فَقَالَ- الرُّكْنُ الْيَمَانِيُّ عَلَى بَابٍ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ مَفْتُوحٌ لِشِيعَةِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ مَسْدُودٌ عَنْ غَيْرِهِمْ وَ مَا مِنْ مُؤْمِنٍ يَدْعُو بِدُعَاءٍ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا صَعِدَ دُعَاؤُهُ حَتَّى يَلْصَقَ بِالْعَرْشِ مَا بَيْنَ

‘Which of these has a greater importance?’ I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause; you know better than I do.’ He (the Imam) repeated his question to me. I then said, ‘Inside the House has more importance.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Al-Yemaniy corner is a door of the doors of paradise w

إِنَّ فِي هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ يَعْنِي حِينَ يَجُوزُ الرُّكْنَ الْيَمَانِيَّ مَلَكاً أُعْطِيَ سَمَاعَ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ فَمَنْ صَلَّى عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص حِينَ يَبْلُغُهُ أَبْلَغَهُ إِيَّاهُ.

“In this place, - when passing al-Yemaniy corner -, there is an angel who is given the hearing of the inhabitants of earth; thus, whoever says, ‘O Allah, grant salawat (favors and compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause)’ when reaching this place he (the angel) conveys it to him (

كَانَ بِمَكَّةَ رَجُلٌ مَوْلًى لِبَنِي أُمَيَّةَ يُقَالُ لَهُ ابْنُ أَبِي عَوَانَةَ لَهُ عِنَادَةٌ وَ كَانَ إِذَا دَخَلَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ- أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَوْ أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَشْيَاخِ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ع يَعْبَثُ بِهِ وَ إِنَّهُ أَتَى أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ هُوَ فِي الطَّوَافِ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مَا تَقُولُ فِي اسْتِلَامِ الْحَجَرِ فَقَالَ اسْتَلَمَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا أَرَاكَ اسْتَلَم

“In Makkah there was a man of the friends of Banu ‘Umayyah called ibn abu ‘Awanah who had hostility. Whenever abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), or any shaykh from the family of Muhammad (SAW), entered Makkah, he mocked. He came to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), during his performing Tawaf and said, ‘O abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), what do you

يَسْتَلِمُ الْحَجَرَ مِنْ حَيْثُ الْقَطْعِ فَإِنْ كَانَتْ مَقْطُوعَةً مِنَ الْمِرْفَقِ اسْتَلَمَ الْحَجَرَ بِشِمَالِهِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that Ali (a.s.), was asked about a man whose hand was cut, how he could touch the Black Stone. He (the Imam) said, ‘He touches with the part that is cut, but if it is cut from the elbow, he then touches with his left hand.’”

‌ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص طَافَ بِالْكَعْبَةِ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ الرُّكْنَ الْيَمَانِيَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ إِلَى الْكَعْبَةِ ثُمَّ قَالَ- الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي شَرَّفَكِ وَ عَظَّمَكِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي بَعَثَنِي نَبِيّاً وَ جَعَلَ عَلِيّاً إِمَاماً اللَّهُمَّ أَهْدِ لَهُ خِيَارَ خَلْقِكَ وَ جَنِّبْهُ شِرَارَ خَلْقِكَ

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, performed Tawaf around al-Ka‘bah until he reached al-Yemaniy corner. He then raised his head toward al-Ka‘bah and said, ‘All praise belongs to Allah who has given you (al- Ka’bah) distinction and grea