from the Black Stone back to the Black Stone. Hence he says: “Whoever leaves out anything of the circumambulation.” The word “anything” is indefinite in the context of a condition, and thus conveys generality. It includes even leaving out a single step or a single handspan of the circumambulation; in that case, it is invalid.
However, if he leaves out part of one circuit and recalls what he omitted during the circumambulation, he disregards the circuit in which he omitted it, and what follows it takes its place.
“Whoever leaves out anything of the circumambulation, or does not intend it or his pilgrimage rite, or circumambulates upon the shadharwān—the base adjoining the Ka‘bah—or upon the wall of al-Hijr, or while naked or impure, his circumambulation is invalid . . .”
His statement, “Whoever leaves out anything of the circumambulation,” means one who is certain that he omitted it. As for one who is in doubt, there are two cases: either he doubts after completing the entire circumambulation, or he doubts during it.
If he doubts during the circumambulation, should he proceed on the basis of certainty, or on the basis of what he considers more likely?
The answer is that there is a difference of opinion on this, just as there is a difference of opinion regarding one who doubts the number of units he has prayed. Some scholars say that he should proceed according to what he considers more likely, while others say that he should proceed on the basis of certainty.
For example, while performing the circumambulation, he doubts whether he has completed five circuits or six. If the two possibilities are equally likely, he counts them as five, because that is what he is certain of. If it seems more likely that they are five, he counts them as five. If it seems more likely that they are six, then some scholars say that he should act upon that and count them as six, whereas others say that he should proceed on the basis of certainty and count them as five.
The correct view is that he should act according to what he considers more likely, as in the prayer. Accordingly, he counts them as six and performs the seventh.
As for after completing the circumambulation and leaving the place