Q: Someone says that he offered Hajj last year but he only performed six rounds of Tawaf-ul-Ifadah (final obligatory circumambulation of the Ka`bah in Hajj). He says that he would count the rounds by the times of Takbir (saying: "Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]") in front of Al-Hajar Al-Aswad (the Black Stone in a corner of the Ka`bah) He counted seven times of Takbir but did not notice that he only made six rounds of Tawaf. So, what about the missed round which he unconsciously left when he (Part No. 10; Page No. 226) depended on the times of Takbir not on the number of rounds? We hope that you answer this question in order to send it to the questioner, may Allah reward you!

A: Tawaf-ul-Ifadah (final obligatory circumambulation of the Ka`bah in Hajj) is one of the pillars of Hajj and without it Hajj is incomplete. Among the conditions of the validity of this Tawaf is to complete seven rounds of Tawaf and if one round or less is missed, the Tawaf is invalid. Thus, he is obliged to return to Makkah and perform it in full and offer Sa`y (going between Safa and Marwah during Hajj and `Umrah) between Al-Safa and Al-Marawah if he is Mutamatti` (pilgrim performing `Umrah during the months of Hajj, followed by Hajj in the same year with a break in between). Also, he is required to do Sa`y if he is offering Qiran Hajj (combining Hajj and `Umrah without a break in between) or Ifrad Hajj (performing Hajj only) and did not perform the Sa`y with Tawaf-ul-Qudum (circumambulation of the Ka`bah on arrival in Makkah). If he had sexual intercourse before repeating this Tawaf, he is committed to a sheep meeting the same conditions for Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims) to be slaughtered in Makkah and distributed among the poor people of Al-Haram. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.