As for “remaining in devotion,” it is prescribed in mosques alone. Bowing together with prostration, however, is prescribed throughout the earth, as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“The earth has been made for me a place of prayer and a means of purification. Thus, whenever the time for prayer comes upon any man of my community, he has at hand his place of prayer and his means of purification.”

All of this is agreed upon among Muslims, although prayer is prohibited in certain places because of some incidental characteristic, such as impurity, or their being a cemetery, a latrine, or the like.

The point here is that He, Glorified and Exalted is He, mentioned these acts in order, beginning with the most restricted in terms of location. He mentioned circumambulation first because it is specific to the Sacred Mosque, then remaining in devotion because it may take place there and in the mosques where Muslims perform the prescribed prayers—the five daily prayers in congregation—and then prayer, because the places where it may be performed are more extensive.

Among the distinctive features of circumambulation is that it is prescribed as an independent act of worship, as part of ‘umrah, and as part of Hajj. No pilgrimage rite is prescribed independently of Hajj or ‘umrah except circumambulation. The pilgrimage rites fall into three categories:

Some take place only during Hajj: standing at ‘Arafah and the associated rites at Muzdalifah.

Some take place only during Hajj or ‘umrah: entering the state of consecration and being released from it,