وَ لْیَطَّوَّفُوْا بِالْبَیْتِ الْعَتِیْقِ (۲۹)

And circumambulate the Free House (Kaʿbah).^[1]

How did ṭawāf originate?

One day, Imam Zain al-ꜤĀbidīn رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was performing ṭawāf when a man asked him a question. The Imam did not address the question and completed seven rounds of the holy KaꜤbah instead. Then he entered the Ḥaṭīm and offered two cycles of prayer beneath the golden spout of the holy KaꜤbah. After that, he sat up straight and asked for the questioner to be brought to him. The questioner asked, “When, why and how did the ṭawāf of the holy KaꜤbah begin?” Imam Zain al-ꜤĀbidīn رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ asked the man where he was from, and he replied that he was from a place near Bayt al-Muqaddas. The Imam asked if he read the Tawrah and Injīl, and he replied in the positive. The Imam proceeded to answer his question, “Remember my answer, for you will only receive the truth from me. When Allah Almighty told the angels that He will place a vicegerent on earth (i.e., Prophet Ādam عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم), the angels claimed they were worthier of this role. Allah Almighty replied:

قَالَ اِنِّیْۤ اَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُوْنَ (۳۰)

Translation from Kanz ul Irfan: He said, “I know that which you do not know.”^[2]

Upon hearing this, the angels felt as if Allah Almighty was displeased with them. So, they sought refuge at the ꜤArsh of Allah, professed humility, cried, and performed ṭawāf of the ꜤArsh for seven years. Allah Almighty had mercy upon them, created a house made of four emerald