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How can one reconcile the command to follow the Prophet’s Sunnah—his sayings and actions—with the opinion of Sheikh Ibn Taymiyyah that purity is not a condition for circumambulation (Tawaf), on the grounds that it is not explicitly stated, even though the Prophet (peace be upon him) only circumambulated in a state of purity?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The two hadiths, "Take your rituals from me" and "Pray as you have seen me praying," do not serve to distinguish between the pillars (arkān), obligatory acts (wājibāt), and supererogatory acts (mustaḥabbāt) in Hajj or prayer. This is because these hadiths call for emulating the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in performing and conveying acts of worship, but his actions alone, peace and blessings be upon him, do not indicate the obligation of every act. Many of his actions are a recommended Sunnah, not obligatory. To distinguish between a pillar, an obligatory act, and a supererogatory act, one must refer to other specific evidences. Some scholars have held that purification is not a condition for circumambulation (tawaf), arguing that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not explicitly command it, and that his performing it with ablution does not indicate obligation.

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

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