[Q 617] Ruling on Broken Tawaf

QUESTION:

Kindly clarify the ruling on the following matter: If a person begins a nafl tawaf but, due to a genuine necessity, is unable to complete it after performing three circuits, what is the legal status of this incomplete tawaf, and what (if anything) is required of the person?

ANSWER:

In the asked situation, since the majority (aksar – majority) of the Nafl (voluntary) Tawaf, i.e., four circuits, remain incomplete, a Dam (sacrificial penalty) becomes necessary. This is because, like Nafl Salah (prayer), once a Nafl Tawaf is initiated, its completion becomes necessary. If it is not completed—whether due to a valid excuse or without any excuse—the expiation (kaffarah – compensation) will be obligatory in all cases.

However, if there is such a severe necessity or valid excuse that the person cannot complete the Tawaf continuously, then they should complete it in intervals, or perform it with the support of someone else. If even that is not possible, then it is permissible to perform it while riding, so that a Dam does not become necessary.

If, despite all possibilities, the Tawaf is not completed, then the kaffarah becomes obligatory. If the person is still present there (in Makkah), they should now complete the Tawaf, in which case the kaffarah will be waived. However, if they have already returned home, then the kaffarah has become obligatory and can no longer be waived.

The detail of the kaffarah is as follows: if the majority, i.e., four or more circuits, were completed, then for each remaining circuit one Sadaqat al-Fitr (charity equal to Sadaqat al-Fitr) will be necessary. But if the majority of circuits were left, then only one Dam will be necessary. In the matter of kaffarah, the ruling of Nafl Tawaf is the same as that of Tawaf al-Qudum.

It is stated in Lubab al-Manasik with its commentary:

“(ويلزم) أي إتمامه بالشروع فيه أي في طواف التطوع”
(Lubab al-Manasik ma‘a Sharhihi, Chapter: Types of Tawaf, Page 203, published in Makkah al-Mukarramah)

In Durr al-Mukhtar with Radd al-Muhtar and al-Bahr al-Ra’iq, regarding leaving most or few circuits of Tawaf, it is stated:

“لكن صرحوا بأنه لو ترك أكثر أشواط الصدر لزمه دم وفي الأقل لكل شوط صدقة”
(Al-Bahr al-Ra’iq Sharh Kanz al-Daqa’iq, Volume 2, Page 354, Dar al-Kitab al-Islami)

Explaining the detail of kaffarah, Rahmatullah al-Sindi عليه الرحمة states in “Lubab al-Manasik”:

“و من ترك طواف الصدر کله او اکثرہ فعلیه شاۃ ای لترك الواجب ۔۔۔ و ان ترک ثلاثة اشواط منه فعلیه لکل شوط صدقة أی فیطعم ثلاثة مساکین کل مسکین نصف صاع من بر۔۔۔ و حکم کل طواف تطوع کحکم طواف القدوم۔۔۔ فالظاھر انه نظیر صلاۃ النفل و صومه حیث یجب علیه اتمامه”
(Lubab al-Manasik, Type Five: Violations in the Actions of Hajj, Pages 496–498, published in Makkah al-Mukarramah)

Answered by: Qazi Muteeb Attari
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 21st April 2026.