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Is it permissible for someone performing Tawaf for Umrah to wear an iron brace on their right leg to walk due to a disability, and what are the implications of that?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is permissible for the circumambulator to use a metal support or other means to assist in walking, by the consensus of the jurists. Similarly, it is permissible for someone unable to walk to ride. They differed regarding the permissibility of riding for one who is able: The Hanafis and some Hanbalis held that walking is always obligatory, and riding for one who is able without need necessitates a dam (sacrificial offering), unless they repeat the circumambulation on foot. They interpreted the Prophet's (peace be upon him) riding as being due to a need. The Shafi'is and some Hanbalis held that riding is permissible without being disliked, because he (peace be upon him) circumambulated both riding and walking, and there is no evidence to restrict this to him. The Malikis differentiated between obligatory circumambulation (walking is obligatory) and voluntary circumambulation (walking is recommended). The most preponderant view is the permissibility of riding for one who is able, even if the circumambulation is obligatory, due to the lack of evidence proving a specific need for the Prophet (peace be upon him) when he rode.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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