What is the ruling on offering the two rak`ahs of Tawaaf at Hijir Ismail ?
Answer:
All praise be to Allah. Blessings and peace be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon his family and righteous companions: Praying at Hijir Ismail is permissible as it is a part of the House(The Kaba ). Abu Dawood narrated in” his Sunnan” that Aisha(May Allah be pleased with her) said: “ I liked to enter the House for offering prayer in it, but the Prophet (PBUH) took my hand and led me to the Hijir and said: “ Pray in the Hijir if you wanted to enter the House for the Hijir is a part of it. This is because when your people built the Kaba, the Hijir remained separated from it. As regards offering the two rak`ahs of the Tawaaf`s Sunnah, the Sunnah is to perform them behind Abraham`s (Mqam) station, so the latter is what separates the prayer performer from the Holy Kaba. Allah The Almighty says in this regard: “'Take to yourselves Abraham's station for a place of prayer.”{Al-Baqarah/125}. The same idea is confirmed in Jabir`s narration describing the Prophet`s Pilgrimage, and it reads: “ When we arrived at the House with him, he kissed the Black Stone Corner and did Ramal( fast walking ) in the first three rounds of Tawaaf, walked in the other four rounds, then headed towards Abraham`s station and recited: “'Take to yourselves Abraham's station for a place of prayer.”{Al-Baqarah/125}. Abraham`s station is what separated him from the House…the above narration “{Muslim}. In his commentary on Sahih Muslim, An-Nawawi said: “ Then he headed to Abraham`s station and recited: “'Take to yourselves Abraham's station for a place of prayer.”{Al-Baqarah/125}. The station of Abraham was between him and the House…. This is evidence on what the Muslim scholars had agreed upon i.e. each performer of Tawaaf should offer two rak`ahs behind Abraham`s station after finishing the Tawaaf. However, the Muslim scholars differed in opinion about the two Rak’ahs after Tawaaf whether they are a Sunnah or Waajib (i.e. an obligation) ? The most preponderant opinion is that it is a Sunnah…not offering them doesn`t invalidate his Tawaaf. The Sunnah is to pray them behind Abraham`s station, if not then at the Hijir, if not then at Al-Masjid Al-haraam, if not then in Mecca and the rest of the Haram area. Also, it is possible for him to offer these two rak`ahs while in his country, or in any other part of the world , but he will miss the virtue of praying at that sacred place.Moreover, He can offer these two rak`ahs during his life.” In conclusion, it is better to offer the two rak`ahs of Tawaaf behind Abraham`s station, if not possible then at the Hijir of Ismail. Anyways, his Tawaaf is valid. And Allah knows best.
All praise be to Allah. Blessings and peace be upon Prophet Mohammad and upon his family and righteous companions: Praying at Hijir Ismail is permissible as it is a part of the House(The Kaba ). Abu Dawood narrated in” his Sunnan” that Aisha(May Allah be pleased with her) said: “ I liked to enter the House for offering prayer in it, but the Prophet (PBUH) took my hand and led me to the Hijir and said: “ Pray in the Hijir if you wanted to enter the House for the Hijir is a part of it. This is because when your people built the Kaba, the Hijir remained separated from it. As regards offering the two rak`ahs of the Tawaaf`s Sunnah, the Sunnah is to perform them behind Abraham`s (Mqam) station, so the latter is what separates the prayer performer from the Holy Kaba. Allah The Almighty says in this regard: “'Take to yourselves Abraham's station for a place of prayer.”{Al-Baqarah/125}. The same idea is confirmed in Jabir`s narration describing the Prophet`s Pilgrimage, and it reads: “ When we arrived at the House with him, he kissed the Black Stone Corner and did Ramal( fast walking ) in the first three rounds of Tawaaf, walked in the other four rounds, then headed towards Abraham`s station and recited: “'Take to yourselves Abraham's station for a place of prayer.”{Al-Baqarah/125}. Abraham`s station is what separated him from the House…the above narration “{Muslim}. In his commentary on Sahih Muslim, An-Nawawi said: “ Then he headed to Abraham`s station and recited: “'Take to yourselves Abraham's station for a place of prayer.”{Al-Baqarah/125}. The station of Abraham was between him and the House…. This is evidence on what the Muslim scholars had agreed upon i.e. each performer of Tawaaf should offer two rak`ahs behind Abraham`s station after finishing the Tawaaf. However, the Muslim scholars differed in opinion about the two Rak’ahs after Tawaaf whether they are a Sunnah or Waajib (i.e. an obligation) ? The most preponderant opinion is that it is a Sunnah…not offering them doesn`t invalidate his Tawaaf. The Sunnah is to pray them behind Abraham`s station, if not then at the Hijir, if not then at Al-Masjid Al-haraam, if not then in Mecca and the rest of the Haram area. Also, it is possible for him to offer these two rak`ahs while in his country, or in any other part of the world , but he will miss the virtue of praying at that sacred place.Moreover, He can offer these two rak`ahs during his life.” In conclusion, it is better to offer the two rak`ahs of Tawaaf behind Abraham`s station, if not possible then at the Hijir of Ismail. Anyways, his Tawaaf is valid. And Allah knows best.