The Mu‘ta‘ajjil pilgrims, or those departing early, will complete the stoning on 12 Dhul-Hijjah, while the Muta’akhkhir pilgrims, or those delaying their departure, will complete it on 13 Dhul-Hijjah. Their Hajj rites will then come to an end. However, if they are not residents of Makkah, it will not be permissible for them to leave Makkah without performing the Farewell Tawaf, because the Farewell Tawaf of Hajj is wajib for those from outside Makkah.
The Method of Performing the Farewell Tawaf
The Farewell Tawaf is like any other Tawaf. However, this Tawaf is performed in ordinary clothing. The Tawaf must begin from al-Hajar al-Aswad. There is no ramal in any of its seven circuits, nor is there idtiba‘. After completing the Tawaf, two rak‘ahs of Tawaf prayer must be offered. If it is not possible to offer them in front of Maqam Ibrahim, they may be offered anywhere within the Haram. There is no Sa‘i after this Tawaf.
Some Rulings Concerning the Farewell Tawaf
This Tawaf is like a farewell salutation to al-Haram al-Sharif. Therefore, the pilgrim’s final duty connected to the House of Allah should be the completion of this Tawaf. It is stated in a hadith that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
«لَا يَنْفِرَنَّ أَحَدٌ حَتَّى يَكُونَ آخِرُ عَهْدِهِ بِالْبَيْتِ».
‘None of you should leave Makkah without making Tawaf of the House of Allah his final deed.’[1]
Similarly, it is narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said:
«أُمِرَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يَكُونَ آخِرُ عَهْدِهِمْ بِالْبَيْتِ إِلَّا أَنَّهُ خُفِّفَ عَنْ الْمَرْأَةِ الْحَائِضِ».
‘The people were instructed that their final deed connected to the House of Allah should be Tawaf. However, this was waived for menstruating women.’[2]
However, menstruating women who have completed Tawaf al-Ziyarah should, if possible, wait until they become pure and then perform the Farewell Tawaf after attaining purity. This is preferable. Otherwise, this Tawaf is waived for them. During the Farewell Hajj, when Safiyyah, may Allah be pleased with her, the wife of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, began menstruating, he asked, ‘Has she performed Tawaf al-Ifadah?’ They replied, ‘Yes.’ The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, then said, ‘Then she may leave now.’[3]
This Tawaf should be the pilgrims’ final deed. It is wajib. After this, they may not remain in Makkah for a long time. If they do, they must perform the Farewell Tawaf again. However, there is no problem if they remain for a short time, such as to wait for a companion, to purchase food supplies, or to buy gifts. Similarly, if for some reason a pilgrim did not previously perform the Sa‘i of the Hajj Tawaf, he may perform Sa‘i after the Farewell Tawaf. There is no problem with this, because it is considered a short period of time.
[1]. Muslim: 1327.
[2]. Muslim: 1328.
[3]. Bukhari: 4401; Muslim: 1211.