6} offering reach the place of sacrifice." (Sura ii, 192). On
arriving at an elevated place, on descending a valley, on meeting any one,
on entering the city of Mecca or the Musjid-ul-Haram[235] the Haji should
continually repeat the word "Labbaik, Labbaik."

As soon as he sees the K'aba[236] he must say the Takbir and the Tahlil.
The Traditionist 'Ata says that at this stage the Prophet used to lift up
his hands and pray.

On entering the enclosure, the Haji says the Labbaik, Takbir and the
Tahlil, then a Du'a. A Namaz of two rak'ats is then said at the station of
one of the four great Imams. On arriving near the Hajr-ul-Aswad (black
stone) the Haji again says the Takbir and the Tahlil, after which he kisses
the stone. If, on account of the crowd, he cannot get near enough to do
this, he must touch it with his hand or with a stick, and kiss that with
which he has thus touched the stone. At the same time he says: "O Allah, (I
do this) in Thy belief, and in verification of Thy book, and in pursuance
of Thy Prophet's example--may Allah bless and preserve him. O accept Thou
my supplication, diminish my obstacles, pity my humiliation and graciously
grant me Thy pardon." Then he again repeats the Takbir and the {227}
Tahlil, the Darud and the Tahrif (prayer for, and praise of Muhammad). He
then encompasses the K'aba seven times, in accordance with the niyyat he
had made, thus: "In the name of Allah, and Allah is Omnipotent! I purpose
to make the circuit seven times."[237] This is called the Tawaf. The Haji
runs round three times at a rapid pace (Tarammul), and four times he
proceeds slowly (Taammul). A permanent resident in Mecca will not perform
the Tawaf. The Haji then presses his stomach, chest and right cheek against
the portion of the K'aba wall, called Al-Multazim, and raising up his arms
on high says: "O Allah, Lord of the Ancient House, free my neck from
hell-fire, and preserve me from every evil deed; make me contented with
that daily bread which Thou hast given to me, and bless me in all Thou hast
granted!" He then says the Istigfar--"I beg pardon of Allah, the Most High,
the Living, the Eternal, and to Him I repent."

The Haji next proceeds to the Maqam-i-Ibrahim[238] (place of Abraham) and
then recites two rak'ats[239] called Sunnat-ut-Tawaf. Some water from the
sacred well Zemzem is then drunk, after which the Haji returns to the
Hajr-ul-Aswad, and again kisses it.

Haji Burton thus describes one shaut or circ