Question

Is there any particular reason of doing tawaf in hajj and umrah in anticlockwise direction?

Answer

We know that in most of his teachings, the Prophet (pbuh) has generally preferred and recommended preferring the right-hand principle, i.e. to start things from the right-hand side. For instance, the Prophet (pbuh) prescribed that in ablution, the right hand should be washed before the left etc.

On the same principle, in the case of the circumambulation of the Ka`bah, if a person stands facing the Ka`bah and starts his encircling around the Ka`bah moving towards the right, then the circumambulation would naturally be in an anti-clockwise direction. It seems that it is primarily this principle of preferring the right-hand direction, on the basis of which during circumambulation, Muslims move in an anti-clockwise direction.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

UIUK team