Performing Tawaf and Touching the Corners

“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 Your name for which the feet of Your angels shake. I appeal before You through Your name by which Moses called You from the side of Mount Tur. You answered his call and placed on him love from Yourself. I appeal before You through Your name because of which You granted forgiveness to Muhammad (SAW), for his past and future Dhanb (shortcomings) and completed for him Your favors, grant my so and so wishes. Ask for whatever you wish.’ After you arrive near the door of al-Ka'bah say, '0 Allah, grant salawat (favors and compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause).’ Between the corner of al- Yemaniy and the Black Stone say, 'Our Lord, grant us good in this world and in the next life and protect us from hellfire.’ During your Tawaf (walking around the Ka'bah) say, '0 Allah, I need You and I am afraid. I seek protection. Do not change my body and do not change my name.”’

“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’”

“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.’”

“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 Black Stone say Takbir (Allah is great beyond description), peace and obedience is due for the Messenger of Allah (saw).’”

“Abu `Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when Ali ibn al-Husayn (a.s.), would go near the Black Stone, before reaching al-Mizab, raise his head and say, £ 0 Allah, admit me in paradise through Your mercy and kindness/ and look at al-Mizab. Then he would say, ‘O Allah, grant me protection through Your mercy against hellfire, grant me good health against illnesses, increase my sustenance from Your lawful provisions, and keep away from me the wickedness of sinful Satan in the form of Jinn, man, Arab and non- Arab people/”

“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/”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that it is preferable when one is between the corner and the Black Stone to say, ‘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.’””

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that 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.’”

“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 not bother about those ones. So do not bother about what the Messenger of Allah did not do.’” Jamil has said, ‘I saw abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), touch all the corners.’

“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 touch the Black Stone and hold al-Yemaniy corner? He replied, ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, “Whenever I would reach al-Yemaniy corner I would find Jibril arrive before me to hold al-Yemaniy corner.’””

“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.’”

“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 is al-Hijjir?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘It is the expression of Arabs, meaning he has nothing to do but to do so and so. In another Hadith it says, ‘He (the angel) has no other task but that (saying Amen)”’

“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.”

“I once was performing Tawaf with abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and in every Tawaf on reaching al- Yemaniy corner he would touch it and say, ‘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.

“I once was performing Tawaf along with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he said, ‘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 which is open for the Shi`a of the family of Muhammad, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, and is closed to others. Whoever of the believing people prays near this (corner), his prayer climbs up until it attaches to the Throne. There is no barrier between it (prayer) and Allah.’”

“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 (the Messenger of Allah).”’

“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 say about touching the Black Stone?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The Messenger of Allah touched it.’ He said, ‘But I do not see you touching it.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘I do not like to disturb weak people or be disturbed.’ He then said, ‘But you believe that the Messenger of Allah would touch it.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, but when people would see the Messenger of Allah they recognize his rights and in my case they do not recognize it.’”

“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.’”

“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 greatness. All praise belongs to Allah who has sent me as a prophet and has made Ali an Imam. O Allah, guide through him Your best creatures and keep the evil ones of Your creatures away from him.’”