If a person doubts the number of his tawaf, what should he do?
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The questioner : The third one in it.
The Shaykh : This is sufficient.
The questioner : ... He does not know if he performed eight, seven, or six.
The Shaykh : Very well.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : If a person doubts.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : If a person doubts the number of his tawaf, whether he performed seven circuits, six, or eight, and this doubt occurs after he has finished, he should not pay attention to it, and it does not harm him. If it is after he has finished, meaning when he moves to the Station of Ibrahim and doubts whether he performed six or seven, or when he begins the sa'y and doubts whether he performed six or seven, we say this has no effect; the tawaf is valid and there is nothing wrong with it. But if the doubt occurs during the tawaf, whether he performed six or seven, we say: he should build upon certainty and perform the seventh circuit. This is a rule in all acts of worship: if a person doubts in them after their completion, you are obligated to answer.
If he doubts in them after their completion, he should not pay attention to it, because the original state is validity. If he doubts in them during their performance, let him build upon certainty. Yes, if he becomes certain after the act of worship is completed that it is incomplete, he is obligated to complete it according to what the situation requires, either by repeating it from the beginning or by adding what was missing to what preceded it.
The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon the noblest of messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.
Your Eminence, I love you for the sake of Allah. And I ask Allah to gather me, you, and those present in the highest level of Paradise with our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh : Amen. Amen.
The questioner : And after that, I read that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) rebuked the Companion who wore gold and took it from his hand, and so did the man.
The Shaykh : The brother says: He asks me by Allah not to answer the questioners.
The student: No, no. You are being harsh with them; you do not answer those who come to you.
The Shaykh : Okay. He asks me by Allah to answer those who ask me, meaning he wants a crowd behind me to break the backs of the seated people, break the benches, and break everything with the people. This is not correct. A person must use firmness and wisdom. I truly hesitate to tell people, "I will not answer you, and this is not the time for answers." I have no doubt that I hesitate greatly from this and it pains me, but if I see the benefit resulting from this, or rather if I see the prevention of harm, the matter becomes easy for me. Otherwise, there is no doubt that if a person says to his brothers, "This is not the time for answers, and I will not answer you," it is certainly very difficult. But considering that the brother questioners sometimes do not observe proper conduct, they may have shouting, screaming, straying from the path, and they crowd someone, and so on. It is true that this is the Sacred Mosque, the most noble of all mosques in the world, and it must be respected. So if we see that the brothers, may Allah reward them for their eagerness for benefit, have voices, talk, and pushing, and also trample on people and their vessels, then it is wisdom that I not answer them, in order to prevent this harm. The matter is broad, and praise be to Allah. There are many scholars. Telephone contact is also available. And I think this is better, if Allah wills.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Rest. Sit down. May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : This is sufficient.
The questioner : ... He does not know if he performed eight, seven, or six.
The Shaykh : Very well.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : If a person doubts.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : If a person doubts the number of his tawaf, whether he performed seven circuits, six, or eight, and this doubt occurs after he has finished, he should not pay attention to it, and it does not harm him. If it is after he has finished, meaning when he moves to the Station of Ibrahim and doubts whether he performed six or seven, or when he begins the sa'y and doubts whether he performed six or seven, we say this has no effect; the tawaf is valid and there is nothing wrong with it. But if the doubt occurs during the tawaf, whether he performed six or seven, we say: he should build upon certainty and perform the seventh circuit. This is a rule in all acts of worship: if a person doubts in them after their completion, you are obligated to answer.
If he doubts in them after their completion, he should not pay attention to it, because the original state is validity. If he doubts in them during their performance, let him build upon certainty. Yes, if he becomes certain after the act of worship is completed that it is incomplete, he is obligated to complete it according to what the situation requires, either by repeating it from the beginning or by adding what was missing to what preceded it.
The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and blessings and peace be upon the noblest of messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions.
Your Eminence, I love you for the sake of Allah. And I ask Allah to gather me, you, and those present in the highest level of Paradise with our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh : Amen. Amen.
The questioner : And after that, I read that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) rebuked the Companion who wore gold and took it from his hand, and so did the man.
The Shaykh : The brother says: He asks me by Allah not to answer the questioners.
The student: No, no. You are being harsh with them; you do not answer those who come to you.
The Shaykh : Okay. He asks me by Allah to answer those who ask me, meaning he wants a crowd behind me to break the backs of the seated people, break the benches, and break everything with the people. This is not correct. A person must use firmness and wisdom. I truly hesitate to tell people, "I will not answer you, and this is not the time for answers." I have no doubt that I hesitate greatly from this and it pains me, but if I see the benefit resulting from this, or rather if I see the prevention of harm, the matter becomes easy for me. Otherwise, there is no doubt that if a person says to his brothers, "This is not the time for answers, and I will not answer you," it is certainly very difficult. But considering that the brother questioners sometimes do not observe proper conduct, they may have shouting, screaming, straying from the path, and they crowd someone, and so on. It is true that this is the Sacred Mosque, the most noble of all mosques in the world, and it must be respected. So if we see that the brothers, may Allah reward them for their eagerness for benefit, have voices, talk, and pushing, and also trample on people and their vessels, then it is wisdom that I not answer them, in order to prevent this harm. The matter is broad, and praise be to Allah. There are many scholars. Telephone contact is also available. And I think this is better, if Allah wills.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Rest. Sit down. May Allah reward you with good.