Is the circumambulation valid if the Black Stone was touched slightly before the green marker, given the doubt about accurately determining the starts and ends of the circuits, and is the Shaykh's fatwa that "the criterion is the total of seven circuits" considered correct?
The circumambulator (Taa'if) must begin the circumambulation (Tawaf) with his entire body aligned with the Black Stone. It does not matter if he starts slightly before it, as that small amount is not counted. However, if he begins the circumambulation after passing the Stone, the first round (shawṭ) is invalidated, and the second round is counted as the first. Some scholars believe that starting the circumambulation from between the two corners, before aligning with the Stone, is not part of the Sunnah. It is not required to renew the intention (niyyah) for each round; a single intention suffices for the entire circumambulation. The circumambulation is valid if one begins aligned with the Stone (or slightly before it) and completes the seven rounds. There is no validity to what is said about the obligation of extending the last round to Maqam Ibrahim; the circumambulation is completed by aligning with the Stone in the seventh round. Thereafter, it is recommended to pray two rak'ahs of Tawaf behind Maqam Ibrahim or in any other place.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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