Is it appropriate for women to circumambulate the Kaaba together with men during hajj or umrah?
When we visit the people who return from hajj, they tell us that while men and women are circumambulating the Kaaba together, women touch men and men touch women involuntarily due to stampede. Is there an exception imposed by Allah for the Kaaba?
Submitted by on Mon, 02/06/2025 - 11:40
Dear Brother / Sister,
- Ibn Jurayj narrates:
"Ata informed us that when Ibn Hisham forbade women to perform Tawaf with men he said to him,
"'How can he forbid it? Even the wives of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) performed hajj with men." I asked Ata:
"Was this before decreeing of the use of the veil or after it?"
"I swear by Allah, I saw it after the order of veil." I asked again,
"'How did they mix with men?" He gave the following answer:
"They never mixed with men. Hz. Aisha circumambulated the Kaaba separately and never mixed with men." Once woman said to her
"O Mother of believers! Let us go and touch Hajar al-Aswad." Hz. Aisha said to her,
"Go yourself as you wish." She herself avoided doing so. They would go out at night, in disguise, and circumambulate the Kaaba with men.
Whenever they intended to enter Baytullah, they would stay outside till all men went out; then, they would enter. (Ata continued):
"I would visit Hz. Aisha with Ubayd Ibn Umayr (the qadi of Makkah) when she resided near Mount Thabir at Muzdalifa." I asked at once,
"What was Hz. Aisha’s veil?"
"She was in a Turkish tent made of felt. The tent had a curtain. There was nothing else between her and us. I saw a rose-colored cover on her." (Bukhari, Hajj 64)
It is permissible for women to circumambulate the Kaaba with men. However, it is necessary for women to circumambulate in the places where there are fewer people so as not to touch men and be touched by men.
(Prof. Dr. İbrahim CANAN, Kütüb-ü Sitte)
Questions on Islam
- Hajj was performed in the period called Jahiliyya too. How and when was this hajj performed and based on what religion?
- Is circumambulating the Kaaba better than a nafilah prayer? Is it regarded worshipping to watch the Kaaba?
- 5. Hajj (Pilgrimage) and Sacrifice
- Will you give information about entering ihram for umrah, regions of miqat and the Mosque of Tan’im?
- Are there any hadiths about not consulting women and not acting in accordance with their views?
- Does it necessitate atonement for a woman who normally covers her face with a veil if she uncovers her face while she is in ihram?
- What is the decree on women’s wearing colorful headscarves? Does a colorful headscarf not attract the looks of non-mahram men?
- Prophet Ibrahim [Abraham] (Peace be upon him)
- What should one do to spend umrah in the most virtuous way?
- It is mentioned that the graves of Prophet Ishmael (Ismail) and Hagar are in the Hijr area of the Kaaba. If this is true, how can prayers be performed there?
