for only approximately six cubits of it are part of the Ka‘bah. Some scholars have estimated its boundary, saying: whatever lies from the point where the curve of the Hijr begins is outside the Ka‘bah, whereas the straight portion is within the Ka‘bah.

Accordingly, we say that performing tawaf upon the wall of the Hijr is invalid, even on the side that lies outside the Ka‘bah; this additional portion is thus treated as subsidiary to the original.

His words, “or naked,” refer to one of the conditions of tawaf: covering the awrah. Thus, if a person performs tawaf naked, his tawaf is invalid, due to the Prophet’s ﷺ instruction: “Announce to the people that no polytheist shall perform Hajj after this year”—meaning the ninth year—“and no one shall perform tawaf around the House naked.” (1) This is unless there is a necessity. If he performs tawaf naked, it is invalid, because it is a prohibited tawaf; and when something is prohibited, the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever performs an act that is not in accordance with our matter, it is rejected.” (2)

In the Age of Ignorance, if people could obtain garments from Quraysh—whether on loan, by purchase, or as a gift—they would perform tawaf in them; otherwise, they would not. Yet some Arabs, even if they were from Quraysh, would say, “We will not perform tawaf in our own clothes, for they are clothes in which we disobeyed Allah, and so we will not perform tawaf in them.” We say: if you perform tawaf naked, then they are clothes in which you disobeyed Allah—that is, by taking them off.

A woman would come and perform tawaf naked, placing her hand over her private parts. As she went around the House, she would chant:

“Today, some of it—or all of it—is exposed;
But whatever is exposed, I do not permit.”