The Virtues of Tawaf:
Many hadiths have been narrated regarding the virtues of Tawaf. For example:
For every step taken by one performing Tawaf, Allah Most High will record one good deed and forgive one sin. Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say,
«مَنْ طَافَ بِالْبَيْتِ كَتَبَ اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ بِكُلِّ خُطْوَةٍ حَسَنَةٍ وَمَحَا عَنْهُ سَيِّئَةٍ».
‘For whoever performs Tawaf around the House of Allah, Allah Most High will record one good deed and forgive one sin for every step he takes.’[1]
One who performs Tawaf becomes as sinless as a child. It is narrated from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«فَإِذَا طُفْتَ بِالْبَيْتِ خَرَجْتَ مِنْ ذُنُوبِكَ كَيَوْمِ وَلَدَتْكَ أُمُّكَ».
‘When you performed Tawaf around the House of Allah, you emerged from your sins as though your mother had given birth to you that very day.’[2]
One who performs Tawaf receives a reward like that of freeing a slave. Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say,
«مَنْ طَافَ سَبْعًا فَهُوَ كَعِدْلِ رَقَبَةٍ».
‘Whoever performs seven circuits of Tawaf around the Ka‘bah will receive the reward of freeing a slave.’[3]
An angel announces that the person performing Tawaf has become sinless. It is narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said,
«وَأَمَّا طَوَافُكَ بِالْبَيْتِ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّكَ تَطُوفُ وَلَا ذَنْبَ لَكَ، يَأْتِي مَلَكٌ حَتَّى يَضَعَ يَدَهُ بَيْنَ كَتِفَيْكَ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ اعْمَلْ لِمَا تُسْتَقْبَلُ فَقَدْ غُفِرَ لَكَ مَا مَضَى».
‘And when you perform Tawaf around the House of Allah (Tawaf al-Ifadah or Farewell Tawaf), you are then sinless. An angel will come to you, place his hand between your shoulders and say: Perform good deeds for the future, for all your past sins have been forgiven.’[4]
[1]. Tirmidhi 959; Al-Hakim: 1/489.
[2]. Musannaf Abd al-Razzaq: 5/16, Hadith no. 8830; Al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir 12/425; Sahih al-Jami‘: 1360.
[3] Sunan al-Nasa’i: 221/5. The reward for freeing a slave has been described in other hadiths. In one hadith, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that whoever frees a believing male or female slave, it will be a means of his deliverance from Hell. [Abu Dawud: 3453] Another hadith states that if anyone frees a slave, Allah will free each of his limbs from Hell in return for each limb of the slave. [Tirmidhi: 1461]
[4]. Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib: 1112.