The questioner completed one lap of the tawaf, then heard a lesson, so he interrupted the tawaf and went to it. After the lesson ended, he completed the tawaf.
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The questioner : He says: I completed one lap of the tawaf, then I heard a lesson, so I interrupted the tawaf and went to the lesson. After the lesson ended, I completed the tawaf.
The Shaykh : It would have been better if he had not completed the tawaf by interrupting it to attend the lesson. There is no doubt that attending the lesson is good, because listening to the lesson is better than tawaf, as it contains knowledge, and knowledge is the best voluntary act a person can perform. It is better than prayer and better than tawaf, but on the condition that the person attends with his heart and his body. As for the one who attends with his body but not his heart, there is doubt as to whether his attendance for the sake of knowledge is better than tawaf.
The Shaykh : It would have been better if he had not completed the tawaf by interrupting it to attend the lesson. There is no doubt that attending the lesson is good, because listening to the lesson is better than tawaf, as it contains knowledge, and knowledge is the best voluntary act a person can perform. It is better than prayer and better than tawaf, but on the condition that the person attends with his heart and his body. As for the one who attends with his body but not his heart, there is doubt as to whether his attendance for the sake of knowledge is better than tawaf.