Does ‘awra Being Exposed during Tawaf or Sa’i Invalidate It?


Hanafi Fiqh

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

I want to ask if some parts of the ‘awra being uncovered invalidate tawaf or sa’i? Like what if the wrist shows and some part beyond the wrist?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

Certain conditions must be met for the Hajj and/or ‘Umra to be valid.

Amongst these conditions is covering one’s nakedness (i.e., that which is legally considered nakedness in the Sacred law). This is known in Arabic as ‘awra. [Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

Covering the ‘Awra

See the below-given link for details on the limits of the ‘Awra for men and women.
A Detailed Exposition of the Fiqh of Covering One’s Nakedness (awra)

If less than 1/4th of the ‘awra is exposed, the circumambulation (tawaf) is valid. [Ibid.]

However, any exposure one knew and did not take the means to cover is strictly prohibited. [Ibid.]

If more than 1/4th of the ‘awra is exposed, a slaughter is required for the necessary circumambulation (tawaf), and charity of 2.2kg of wheat or its monetary value is due. [Ibid.]

However, if one repeats the tawaf, no expiation is due in both situations. The repeated tawaf makes up for any violations. [Ibid.]

Hope this helps
Allah knows best

[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he then completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.