Ruling on performing Sa‘y (walking between Mounts As-Safa and Al-Marwah) after the Farewell Tawaaf (circumambulation)

29/10/2010| IslamWeb

Question

My husband and I performed Hajj last year and we performed Sa‘y between As-Safa and Al-Marwah after performing the Farewell Tawaaf. We did not know that this is impermissible. Is our Hajj valid? Should we do something to make it valid?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.

Your Hajj is valid, Allah willing, if you performed all its pillars and obligations properly as performing extra Sa‘y in Hajj does not affect the validity of Hajj despite the fact that performing an optional Sa‘y is not permissible.

You will not be held sinful for performing Sa‘y after performing the Farewell Tawaaf as it was done out of ignorance. This is because performing Sa‘y after the Farewell Tawaaf does not violate the fact of the Sacred House being the last place where the pilgrim was before leaving Makkah. ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, performed ‘Umrah after performing Hajj with her brother ‘Abdur-Rahmaan, may Allah be pleased with him, and she performed Tawaaf and Sa‘y. It was not reported that she performed the Farewell Tawaaf after her Sa‘y. This proves that performing Sa‘y after performing the Farewell Tawaaf does not necessitate performing another Tawaaf as the Tawaaf of the ‘Umrah that was performed by ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, apparently sufficed for Tawaaf of Hajj as well as the Farewell Tawaaf.

Ibn Hajar said, "The story of ‘Aa’ishah indicates that if the Sa‘y took place after the Tawaaf of Ifaadhah (Hajj), if we say that this Tawaaf suffices for the Farewell Tawaaf, then this Sa‘y that occurred between Tawaaf and leaving Makkah does not affect the validity of the abovementioned Tawaaf".

The difference between your case and that of ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, is that her Sa`y is valid under Sharee`ah while yours is not and it does not affect your Hajj as you were unaware and thought that it was valid under Sharee`ah. Another supportive point is that the action which is the object of ruling in your case and that of `Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, is the same (i.e. Sa`y).

And Allah knows best.