Supplications (ad’iyah) during Tawaaf
When you come to the black stone, face it and kiss or indicate towards it (as described above) and say “bismillaahi wa Allaahu Akbar”. This has been authentically reported from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with them). These are great words and one must appreciate their meanings: that you are beginning in the name of Allaah and that Allaah is Great (greater than all things). Kissing the black stone, touching it or indicating towards it is a meritorious deed as the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Indeed Allaah will bring the black stone up on the Day of Resurrection and it will have two eyes with which it sees, a tongue with which it speaks and it will testify for those who touched it.” (Ahmad) He also said: “Touching the black stone and the Yemeni corner causes sins to fall.” (at-Tirmithi)
Note that we kiss the black stone as a means of glorifying Allaah and following the sunnah of His Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Therefore, when ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) kissed it he said: “No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither harm (anyone) nor benefit anyone. Had I not seen Allaah’s Messenger kissing you, I would not have kissed you.” (al-Bukhaari and Muslim)
At the beginning of the tawaaf one may also say as ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him) used to say: “Allaahumma Eemaanan bika wa tasdeeqan bi kitaabika wa wafaa an bi ‘ahdika wa it-tibaa ‘an li sunnati nabiyyika Muhammadin-sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam” (O Allaah, with faith in You, belief in Your book, loyalty to You and in compliance to the way of Your Prophet Muhammad-sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). (al-Bayhaqi and others)
Between the Yemeni corner and the black stone, say: “Rabbanaa aatinaa fid-dunyaa hasanatan, wa fil aakhirati hasanatan wa qinaa ‘athaab an-naar” (Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the life to come and keep us safe from the torment of the fire) (Ahmad and Ibn Khuzaimah).
You may remember Allaah, recite the Quraan or supplicate as you wish (during the tawaaf). Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: ‘Abdurrahmaan ibn ‘Awf (or Sa’ad ibn Abi Waqqaas) used to do tawaaf and he repeated the follwing du’aa: “Rabbi qinee shuhha nafsee, Rabbi qinee shuhha nafsee” (My Lord save me from the greed of my own soul, my Lord save me from the greed of my own soul). He was asked, don’t you ask for anything besides that? In response he said: “If I am protected from the greed of my own soul, I’ve succeeded.” Allaah says (what means): “And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul – it is those who will be the successful.” (59:9)
Regarding the merits of tawaaf, the black stone and the Yemeni corner, we find the following narration of Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with them): “I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say: Touching them expiates sins. I heard him say: Whoever circles this house seven times, it is as though he freed a slave. I heard him say: One does not place one foot on the ground and raise the other except that Allaah wipes away through it (each step) a sin, and a good deed is recorded for him through it. (at-Tirmithi)
