Q 1: I performed Hajj for the first time, and when I circumambulated the Ka`bah, most of the time I restricted myself during rounds of Tawaf to the Ka`bah itself, leaving the partition wall adjacent to the Ka`bah on its northern side. What is the ruling on my Hajj?

A: If the Tawaf that you are asking about was Tawaf-ul-Ifadah (final obligatory circumambulation of the Ka`bah in Hajj), which is done after standing at `Arafah, your Tawaf will not be valid and subsequently the Hajj itself is invalid, unless you repeated this Tawaf. This is because Tawaf-ul-Ifadah is one of the pillars or essential parts of the Hajj. Therefore, you have to go back to Al-Masjid Al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque in Makkah) and circumambulate the Ka`bah seven times, starting each round from Al-Hajar Al-Aswad (the Black Stone in a corner of the Ka`bah) and ending the seventh round at Al-Hajar Al-Aswad, and each round must go outside Hijr Isma`il (semi-circular short wall adjacent to the Ka`bah and considered part of it) from behind the wall. Thus, your Hajj will be acceptable. However, if (Part No. 11; Page No. 235) the Tawaf in question was Tawaf-ul-Wada` (circumambulation of the Ka`bah on leaving Makkah), then you would have to offer a sacrificial animal to be slaughtered in Makkah and the meat should be given to the poor, in order to complete your Hajj, but you do not have to go back to the Ka`bah, and if you do go back it will not waive the obligation of offering a sacrificial animal. However, if the Tawaf is a Nafilah (supererogatory), you do not have to do anything.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.