Two rak'ahs behind Maqam Ibrahim (Prayer of Tawaf)
Rak'ata at-Tawaf khalf Maqam Ibrahim
Overview
After completing the seven circuits of tawaf it is recommended to pray two short units, ideally behind Maqam Ibrahim, the standing-place of the Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام). These are known as the 'two rak'ahs of tawaf.'
Du'a
Approaching the Maqam
وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى
Wa-ttakhidhu min maqami Ibrahima musalla
And take from the standing place of Ibrahim a place of prayer.
Recited as you move toward Maqam Ibrahim after completing the seven circuits, before the two rak'ahs.
Source · Qur'an 2:125; Sahih Muslim 1218
Grade · The words are Qur'an 2:125; praying behind the Maqam is from Jabir's (RA) Hajj in Sahih Muslim 1218.
In the two rak'ahs
Surah al-Kafirun (109), then Surah al-Ikhlas (112)
After al-Fatihah, recite Surah al-Kafirun in the first rak'ah and Surah al-Ikhlas in the second.
The two rak'ahs of tawaf, prayed behind the Maqam (or anywhere in the mosque).
Source · Sahih Muslim 1218
Grade · Sahih (Sahih Muslim).
Qur'an
Surah al-Baqarah —'وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى'('And take from the standing place of Ibrahim a place of prayer'). This is the direct Qur'anic basis for praying behind the Maqam.
'وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى'Reference · Qur'an 2:125
Hadith
(the long hadith of Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA) describing the Prophet's (ﷺ) Hajj): after completing the tawaf the Prophet (ﷺ) went to the Maqam of Ibrahim, recited'وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى',then prayed two rak'ahs with the Maqam between himself and the Ka'bah, reciting in them Surah al-Kafirun (109) and Surah al-Ikhlas (112). (Tafsir of al-Baqarah, also), narrated from Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA): 'I agreed with my Lord in three things... I said, O Messenger of Allah, would that you took the Station of Ibrahim as a place of prayer, so there was revealed'وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى'.'
References · Sahih Muslim 1218 · Sahih al-Bukhari 4483 · Sahih al-Bukhari 402
Grade · Sahih Muslim 1218: Sahih (in Sahih Muslim), Sahih al-Bukhari 4483: Sahih (in Sahih al-Bukhari), Sahih al-Bukhari 402: Sahih (in Sahih al-Bukhari)
Applies to
All Hajj types (tamattu, qiran, ifrad) and after every tawaf. A Tamattu' pilgrim, who performs two tawafs (the Umrah tawaf and tawaf al-ifadah), prays two rak'ahs after each; likewise after any other tawaf performed.
If missed
Shafi'i and Hanbali: no penalty — a missed sunnah; the tawaf and Hajj are valid. Hanafi: sinful to omit deliberately but no dam, since the two rak'ahs remain owed and may be prayed at any later time. Maliki: for the obligatory tawaf, omission requires making them up and a dam if the pilgrim has already left Makkah. Praying them is not a condition for the validity of the tawaf in any school.
Timing & place
Immediately after completing the seventh circuit of any tawaf. Not tied to a clock; if it falls in a time otherwise disliked for prayer, the schools differ on delaying, but for the tawaf prayer most permit it at any time.
Behind Maqam Ibrahim — the Station of Ibrahim — in Masjid al-Haram, ideally with the Maqam between the worshipper and the Ka'bah. If crowded, the two rak'ahs may be prayed anywhere in the Sacred Mosque or the wider Haram — praying directly behind the Maqam is recommended, not required.
Common mistakes
- •Crowding and praying right against the Maqam in the path of those making tawaf and obstructing them — it is better to pray further back
- •Believing the prayer must be exactly behind the Maqam (it may be anywhere in the mosque or Haram)
- •Omitting the two rak'ahs entirely
- •Praying more than two rak'ahs
- •Not knowing the two sunnah recitations (al-Kafirun then al-Ikhlas after al-Fatihah)
- •Delaying or blocking the flow of tawaf to secure a spot immediately behind the Maqam
Across the madhabs
Genuine four-madhab divergence on the two rak'ahs after tawaf.
- •Hanafi: Wajib after every tawaf (obligatory or voluntary); deliberately abandoning it is sinful, but no dam is required because the prayer remains a due debt that can be offered later.
- •Maliki: Wajib for a tawaf that is a pillar or obligatory (e.g. tawaf al-ifadah), per the mashhur view; if abandoned and the pilgrim has left Makkah he must perform it and offer a sacrifice in Makkah; sunnah for a voluntary tawaf.
- •Shafi'i: Sunnah (muakkadah), not obligatory, no penalty.
- •Hanbali: Sunnah (muakkadah), not obligatory, no penalty.
Notes
These are the 'two rak'ahs of tawaf'. A general (non-tawaf) sunnah or fard prayer does not substitute for them where they are held obligatory. After praying them the Prophet (ﷺ) returned to the Black Stone (istilam) and then proceeded to Safa for the sa'i (in the tawaf that is followed by sa'i). Praying behind the Maqam is the recommended place; the obligation, where held, attaches to the two rak'ahs themselves rather than to the exact spot.