the scholars. If a woman arrives while menstruating, she does not circumambulate the House, but she stands at ʿArafah and performs all the other pilgrimage rites while menstruating, except circumambulation. For that, she waits until she becomes ritually pure, if she can, and then circumambulates. If necessity compels her to circumambulate and she does so, it suffices according to the correct one of the scholars’ two opinions.

After completing the circumambulation, the pilgrim prays two rakʿahs for it. It is better to pray them at the Station of Abraham. It is recommended to recite in them the two surahs expressing sincerity of faith:

“Say, O disbelievers”

and

“Say, He is Allah, One.”

After praying them, it is recommended that he touch the Black Stone and then go out to perform saʿy (traversing between al-Safā and al-Marwah). He may also delay this until after tawāf al-ifādah (the circumambulation of return).

There are three circumambulations in Hajj:

The first is performed upon arrival and is called the circumambulation of arrival, entry, or coming.

The second is performed after the standing at ʿArafah. It is called the circumambulation of return or visitation. This is the obligatory circumambulation that cannot be dispensed with, as Allah Most High says:

“Then let them end their untidiness, fulfil their vows, and circumambulate the Ancient House.”

The third is for anyone intending to leave Mecca: the farewell circumambulation. Performing saʿy immediately after any one of these suffices. When going out for saʿy, the pilgrim leaves through the Gate of al-Safā. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would climb al-Safā and al-Marwah, both of which lie at the side of