As for the hadith narrated by al-Nasā’ī from Ibn ‘Abbās, in which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Circumambulating the House is prayer, except that Allah has permitted speech during it. Whoever speaks during it should therefore say only what is good,”
it has been said that these are the words of Ibn ‘Abbās himself. Whether they are the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, or those of Ibn ‘Abbās, they do not mean that circumambulation is a form of prayer like the Friday prayer, the prayer for rain, or the eclipse prayer. Allah has distinguished prayer from circumambulation in His saying, Exalted is He:
“Purify My House, both of you, for those who circumambulate it, those who stand in prayer, and those who bow and prostrate.”
Scholars have discussed which is better for a newly arrived visitor: prayer or circumambulation. They unanimously agree that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, circumambulated the House and prayed two units of prayer behind the Station of Abraham. Mass-transmitted reports from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, the Companions, the Successors, and the other scholars establish the distinction between what is called prayer and what is called circumambulation. Thus, circumambulation cannot be classified as a form of prayer.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“The key to prayer is purification; its sacred state begins with declaring Allah’s greatness and ends with the salutation of peace.”
Circumambulation, however, does not begin its sacred state with declaring Allah’s greatness or end it with the salutation of peace. The early generations and those who came after them disagreed over whether ablution is obligatory for circumambulation after entering a state of minor ritual impurity. By contrast, the obligation of ablution for prayer is an elementary and indisputable teaching of Islam, and whoever denies it is a disbeliever. Nothing has been transmitted from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, requiring ablution for circumambulation. Prohibiting a menstruating woman from circumambulation does not entail