the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, that he required purification for it. Rather, it is established in the authentic hadith collection that:

“When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, recited Sūrat al-Najm, the Muslims and polytheists, jinn and humans, prostrated with him. Pharaoh’s sorcerers also prostrated without being in a state of ritual purity.”

It is also established that Ibn ‘Umar performed the prostration of recitation without ablution. No Companion is reported to have required purification for it. Likewise, no one has reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, concluded it with the salutation of peace. Most of the early generations held that no salutation of peace is prescribed for it. This is also one of the two views reported from Ahmad, who stated that he had heard no report prescribing a salutation of peace. Those who prescribe it have established it through a faulty analogy, treating this prostration as prayer when that is precisely the point in dispute.

As for the funeral prayer, some have held that purification is not a condition for its validity. This, however, is a weak view, for it has a prescribed entry into and exit from its sacred state and is therefore prayer. Circumambulation is not like any of these acts, nor does a menstruating woman need to perform them. Since she does not perform prayers that are an individual obligation, this applies all the more to communal obligations and voluntary prayers. Her supplication for the deceased and her seeking forgiveness for him achieve the intended purpose as far as possible, just as her attendance at Eid and remembrance of Allah Most High alongside the Muslims achieve the intended purpose as far as possible.

Although circumambulation has a distinction over the other rites by its very nature, by taking place in the mosque, and by being prescribed both as an independent act of worship and as part of ‘umrah