Meaning of Tawaf and Sa`i and Their Difference

Dr. Rif`at Fawzi, former professor of Shari`ah at Cairo Univ. , states: “Tawaf must be performed outside and around the Ka`bah. One must complete seven rounds of the Ka`bah. One must begin and end one’s Tawaf at the Black Stone.

Sa`i between Safa and Marwa starts from as-Safa and ends at Al-Marwa. It must be seven rounds. Each round is between As-Safa and Al-Marwa which means that starting Sa`i from As-safa to Al-Marwa is considered one round and then Sa`i from Al-Marwa to As-Safa is considered another round and so on until one completes seven rounds. But Tawaf starts from the Black Stone and ends at the Black Stone.”