Islamic Fiqh > Hajj and umra > Tawaf al-wada and those excused
The farewell tawaf: its status per the schools, the excuses of the woman and the sick, and the rules of leaving Mecca.
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Updated on 31 August 2026 at 3:55 AM
The farewell tawaf, called the tawaf of the last engagement, closes the pilgrimage. Abu Hanifa, Ahmad and al-Shafi'i (in his soundest view) make it a duty whose leaving without excuse engages an animal: Ibn Abbas reports that people departed every which way and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Let no one depart until his last engagement is with the House" (Muslim 1327); and: "He ordered that the last engagement be with the House, and lifted the menstruating woman from this duty" (al-Bukhari 1668, Muslim 1328); Ibn Umar: "Whoever performs the hajj of the House, let the House be his last engagement, except the menstruating woman, granted the licence by the messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)" (at-Tirmidhi 944, sahih hadith). Ibn Qudama argues: the menstruating woman's exemption proves the obligation for others, for what would fall upon all would not have been specially lifted for her. Malik and al-Shafi'i (in his second view) see a sunna: it falls away for the menstruating woman and the one in lochias, like the arrival tawaf.
Whoever performed this tawaf then stayed for a purchase, a visit to a sick person, waiting for a caravan: al-Shafi'i, Ahmad and Abu Yusuf ask him to repeat it, for it counts only as a last engagement; Abu Hanifa asks nothing, even after a month: he came to Mecca for the rite, completed it, and this tawaf was counted to him at the time of departure.
The menstruating woman and the one in lochias are dispensed from it; the man with goods in Mecca may spend the nights of Mina there; and Ibn Abbas says further: "When you have thrown the pebbles, dwell where you wish". The farewell tawaf carries within it the rule of all the rites an excuse permits to leave: no expiation for the excused one.
Before leaving Mecca, a last tawaf, seven circuits in purity; the menstruating woman departs without it and without debt. Whoever foresees purchases settles them before the farewell, according to the most demanding view.