Al-Hajj 29: So that they can remove their impurities, fulfill their offers and perform tawaf (circumambulation) of House of Allah.

A. Metin Saruhan · 9 March 2018 · Al-Hajj

Translation

So that they can remove their impurities, fulfill their offers and perform tawaf (circumambulation) of House of Allah.

Tafsir

Removing impurities from people means many things. In the first sense, what everyone understands is the external cleansing, such as shaving one's hair and beard, cleaning one's clothes, washing and cleansing oneself, and cutting one's fingernails.

The meaning here is that people are not free from sins. A person becomes a pilgrim when he comes from Muzdalifah to Mina, slaughters his sacrifice on the first day of Eid al-Adha, stones the devil, then comes to Mecca, circumambulates the Baytullah, completes his counting, and cuts his hair and beard.

Allah (swt) says about the pilgrims, "After you have made the pilgrimage and circumambulated the Baytullah and prayed two rak'ahs at Maqam Ibrahim, you are as if you have just been born from your mothers". This is how Allah (swt) cleanses people from the dirt of sin, and we are cleansed from sin as if we were new born from our mothers. Also, if people have vows they have promised, let them slaughter them too. Let them be true to their word.

Tawaf consists of seven Shawafs around the Baytullah. Turning around the Baytullah once is one shawt. Seven times is one tawaaf.

Tawaaf is in five parts: 1- Tawaaf of Qudum; this is a tawaaf that is done immediately by those who come to Makkah from outside. It is sunnah for these people. Such a tawaaf is also called Tawaaf Lika. 2- Tawaaf al-visitation; this is a tawaaf that is done after coming down from Arafat. It is also called tawaaf al-isafah. This is one of the two pillars of Hajj. It is not essential to do it immediately, but if one does not do it, one cannot become a pilgrim. 3- Tawaaf al-Sadr: This is a tawaaf that is performed when one arrives in Makkah al-Mukarrah from Mina. This tawaaf is also called farewell tawaaf. This tawaaf is obligatory for outsiders. 4- Tawaaf Tawaf Tawaf Tawaf, which is done from time to time by those who are in Makkah al-Mukarrama. This tawaaf is a nafil tawaaf. 5- Tawaaf of 'Umrah; It is the tawaaf of those who are in Hajj 'Umrah. In order for the tawaaf to be accepted, it must be done at least four times. The other three are sunnah. Tawaafs that are not performed for a minimum of four Shawafs are not valid.

What is said in the video

We have come to verse 29 of Surah Al-Hajj. "Then let them remove their dirt, fulfil their vows and circumambulate the House of Allah." Now these poor people, when it says "let them remove their dirt", think of washing. And when it says of paradise "you have come all clean", they make a lake at the gate of paradise, they set one up. They wash in the lake, and the angels say to those people coming to paradise, "you have come all clean", and bring them into paradise with their bodies. May Allah grant it to them. Let us say: may He give them a good understanding. May He give them a good understanding.

May they understand the verses well. Here too, when you say "let them clean themselves of their dirt", the dirt here is my body's dirt. I don't get rid of my body's dirt only there, do I? I get rid of my body's dirt by washing here. But look, what does Allah Almighty say? Let them fulfil their vows and circumambulate the House of Allah. Then let them remove their dirt. Then let them remove their dirt. My dirt, the burden of sin with which I have become soiled: in Mecca the Honoured, when I circumambulate, whether in Hajj or in Umrah, my Lord cleanses my dirt. That is, He forgives my sins. Yes. The removal of people's dirt has many meanings.

In the first meaning, which everyone understands: cutting one's hair and beard, cleaning one's clothes, washing and getting clean, cutting one's nails; such outward, external cleanliness. The meaning here, however: people are not free of sins. Coming from Muzdalifah to Mina, slaughtering one's sacrifice on the first day of the Feast of Sacrifice, and after the stoning of the devil, coming to Mecca the Honoured, circumambulating the House of Allah, completing (?), and having one's hair and beard cut, a person has become a hajji. For the pilgrims who come to Hajj, circumambulate the House of Allah and, at the Station of Abraham, pray two rak'ahs, Allah Almighty says: then you are as if newly born from your mothers.

So He declares. This is how Allah Almighty cleanses people of the dirt of sins. We are cleansed, sinless, as if newly born from our mothers. Also, if people have vows they have promised, let them slaughter those too and be faithful to their word, Allah Almighty says. Yes, the tawaf of the House of Allah consists of seven circuits (shawts). Going round the House of Allah once is one circuit. When it has been gone round seven times, one tawaf has been made. Tawaf is of five kinds. One, the tawaf of qudum. This tawaf is what those coming to Mecca the Honoured from outside perform right away as a tawaf. It is sunnah for these people.

Such a tawaf is also called tawaf al-liqa. Two, tawaf al-ziyarah. This is one performed after coming down from Arafat as a tawaf. It is also called tawaf al-ifadah. This is one of the two pillars of Hajj. It is not essential to perform it immediately. But if this tawaf is not performed, a person cannot become a hajji. Three, the tawaf of sadar: on this side, while at Mina, when one comes to Mecca the Honoured, it is the tawaf performed. This tawaf is also called the farewell tawaf. This tawaf is wajib for those coming from outside. Four, the tatawwu tawaf is what those in Mecca the Honoured from time to time perform. This tawaf is a voluntary tawaf.

Five, the umrah tawaf is the tawaf to be performed by those doing Hajj, Umrah.

For a tawaf to be accepted, at least four circuits must be made. The other three are sunnah. Tawafs in which at least four circuits are not made are not valid.