Is the entire al-Masjid al-Haram considered a place for tawaf?

Question : Shaykh Muhammad, a questioner asks: Is the entire al-Masjid al-Haram considered a place for tawaf?

Answer : Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, his Companions, and those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Judgment. Yes, the entire al-Masjid al-Haram is a place for tawaf, even if pillars stand between a person and the Ka'bah; that does not harm and does not prevent him from being one who is performing tawaf around the Ka'bah. However, if he is outside the mosque, he is not considered to be performing tawaf around the Ka'bah, but rather he is performing tawaf around the mosque. For this reason, the scholars stated that a condition for the validity of tawaf is that it be performed inside the mosque, not outside it.
There is no difference between performing tawaf on the lower level, i.e., the ground floor, or on the levels above it, or on the roof. However, it is not recommended to leave the ground floor unless there is a need or dire necessity due to heavy crowds or the like. May Allah reward you with good.