What is the ruling on tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah) while the imam is delivering the Friday sermon?

Question:
He asks: What is the ruling on one who performs tawaf while the imam is delivering the Friday sermon?

Answer:
There is nothing wrong with a person performing tawaf while the imam is delivering the sermon, or performing tawaf while the people are praying. This is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), during the Farewell Pilgrimage, was praying the Fajr prayer while the people were performing tawaf in front of him (peace and blessings be upon him), and he did not prevent them. The people differ in this regard; some were travelers who had prayed, having prayed because they were travelers and wanted to complete the rites of the pilgrimage and then travel. People differ in this matter. As for a person who has no pilgrimage rites to perform, who has no rites to perform and only wants to do a voluntary act, he should sit and listen to the sermon. But as for a person who has the rites of Hajj or 'Umrah (the lesser pilgrimage) to perform and wants to carry out the rituals, there is nothing wrong with him performing tawaf and sa'y (walking between al-Safa and al-Marwah) while the imam is delivering the sermon or the people are praying. Yes. If he has already prayed, that is fine. But if he has not prayed, he should stop the tawaf and pray, or stop the sa'y and pray, and then resume after the prayer.