What is the ruling on tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah) behind the Maqam or behind Zamzam?

Question : Honorable Shaykh Muhammad, this questioner says: What is the ruling on tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah) behind the Maqam or behind Zamzam?

Answer : There is no harm in performing tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah) behind the Maqam or behind Zamzam, or even further back than that, because the entire Sacred Mosque is a place for tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah). However, the closer a person is to the Ka'bah, the better it is. But if a person gets close to the Ka'bah and finds severe crowding that distracts him from the presence of his heart in his tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka'bah), whereas if he stays further back he finds ease, tranquility, and greater presence of heart, then we say that staying further back is better. This is because the virtue associated with the act of worship itself takes precedence over the virtue associated with its location.

The presenter : May Allah bless you,