Is it required that the two rak'ahs of tawaf be prayed behind the Maqam?

The questioner : One prays two rak'ahs behind the Maqam because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed behind the Maqam. Praying them behind the Maqam is a matter of the recommended practice (sunnah) regarding location. If one prays them in a place other than this, the sunnah is still fulfilled, but it is better to pray them behind the Maqam. Is it required to be close to it? I mean, does one have to be close to the Maqam, or is it permissible even if far away?

The Shaykh : We say it is permissible even if far away, because the hadith of Jabir says, "So he placed the Maqam between them and the House." The important thing is that the Maqam of Ibrahim is between you and the Ka'bah, even if you are far away. Accordingly, there is no need for the pushing and shoving that some ignorant pilgrims do. You find them pushing and shoving behind the Maqam, even though people are performing tawaf, and they are making it difficult for those performing tawaf. In this situation, if a man steps on the foot of a person who is praying and breaks his neck and he dies,

The questioner : If he did it intentionally, is he liable for compensation or not?

The Shaykh : He is not liable for compensation, because he considered the place of the people performing tawaf as his own and prayed in their place. Prayer has a designated place, and the entire Haram is a designated place. But what is the purpose of this specific place for the tawaf?