Are you performing Hajj this year? Certainly, you would like to have an acceptable Hajj and to perfect your rituals as much as possible. One of the dimensions you need to consider is to avoid common mistakes in the different stages of Hajj. In this series, we draw to your attention to some of these mistakes. This part lists some mistakes made during Tawaf.

1- Wearing socks or similar footwear in order not to step upon bird excrement and covering one’s hands so as not to touch a woman.

2- Uttering the intention by saying, for example, “I intend to perform Tawaf by making seven rounds (ashawt).”

3- Raising up the hands when touching the Black Stone as they are raised at the beginning of prayer.

4- Crowding in order to kiss the Black Stone, and finishing the Prayer before the imam in order to kiss the Black Stone.

5- Standing for a long time while facing the Black Stone, which causes overcrowding and disturbing other people.

6- Insisting on performing the tow Rak`ahs of Tawaf near the Station of Ibrahim while people are performing Tawaf which hinders the smooth movement of those performing Tawaf.

7- Placing the right hand upon the left while making Tawaf.

8- Designating special Du`a’s for special places and rituals, such as:

– Making Du`a’ at the `Iraqi corner saying: (O Allah! I seek Your refuge from doubt and shirk, and from hostility and hypocrisy, and had manners, and loss in money and family and children.)

– Making Du`a’ beneath the water-spout saying: (O Allah! Shade me under Your shade on the Day that there is no shade except Your shade.)

– Making Du`a’ while doing Ramal, saying: (O Allah! Make it an accepted Hajj, and forgiven sin, and a praiseworthy Sa`y, and a work that does not lead to nothing, O Mighty One, O Forgiving One.)

– Saying on the last four rounds of Tawaf: (O Allah! Forgive and have mercy and forgive what You know, verily You are the Most Mighty, the Most Generous.)

9- Kissing the two Shami corners and touching them.

10- Wiping the walls of the Ka`bah and the Station of Ibrahim (peace and blessings be upon him).

11- Seeking blessing from what they call ‘Al-`Urwat Al-Wuthqa’ which is a high place jutting out from the wall of the Ka`bah opposite to the Door, the common people claiming that one who touches it with his hand has clung on to ‘the Most Trustworthy Hand-Hold.

12- Seeking to perform Tawaf while it is raining claiming that one who does so has all of his previous sins forgiven.

13- Seeking blessing from the rainwater which descends from the Water-spout of Mercy on the Ka`bah.

14- Being careful to drench their bears in Zamzam, and also their money and clothes in order to bless them.