Can You Take a Break During Tawaf?

Question: 109356

A man did two circuits of tawaf, then because it was so crowded, he exited tawaf and rested for an hour or two, then he went back to resume tawaf. Should he start all over again, or should he continue his tawaf from where he left off?

Summary of answer

If the interruption to take a break during tawaf was lengthy, such as an hour or two, then he must repeat tawaf and start all over again. But if the interruption was brief, there is nothing wrong with that.

Answer

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.

Shaykh Ibn `Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“If the interruption was lengthy, such as an hour or two, then he must repeat tawaf and start all over again. But if the interruption was brief, there is nothing wrong with that. That is because in tawaf and sa`i, it is stipulated that the actions be consecutive , meaning that the circuits or laps come one after another.

So, if tawaf and sa`i are interrupted by a lengthy break, the first circuits are rendered invalid, and he must start tawaf all over again. But if the interruption is not lengthy, such as if he sat down for two or three minutes, then completed it, there is nothing wrong with that.” (Majmu‘ Fatawa Ibn ‘Uthaymin, 22/293)

And Allah knows best.

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