another person with whom he wishes to speak, and walks with him until he finishes his circumambulation, or something similar. In that case, his circumambulation is not valid. But if he simply intends to perform circumambulation, without intending it for ‘umrah, for example, is it sufficient?
The answer is that the scholars differed regarding this.
Some of them said: It is not sufficient. Rather, he must intend the circumambulation specifically for ‘umrah, for Hajj, as the Farewell Circumambulation, or as a voluntary circumambulation, such as the Arrival Circumambulation. Mere intention to circumambulate is not sufficient. This is the well-known position of the madhhab: the type of circumambulation must be specified in one’s intention.
Other scholars said that such specification is not a condition; rather, the intention to perform circumambulation is required, because circumambulation is a component of the act of worship, and the initial intention encompasses the entire act of worship in all its parts. They drew an analogy with the prayer, saying: Prayer includes bowing, prostration, standing, and sitting, yet one is not required to form a separate intention for each of its pillars; the initial intention is sufficient.
Accordingly, if a person intends to perform ‘umrah, that intention encompasses the ‘umrah from the moment he enters the state of ihram until he exits it, and circumambulation is part of ‘umrah.
Thus, when he comes to the Sacred House and performs circumambulation, but it slips his mind that it is for ‘umrah or for something else, then according to this view his circumambulation is valid. This is the stronger view: it is not a condition to specify the particular circumambulation so long as he is engaged in the pilgrimage rite.
Although this view is stronger in principle, it is also easier for people, because amid the crowds a person may forget that he intended to perform circumambulation for ‘umrah or Hajj. Were we to say that he must specify the circumambulation for the particular rite, it would entail