Can you do tawaf on a hoverboard or helicopter?

Question:

Can you do tawaf on a hoverboard or helicopter? Answer: ﺑﺴﻢ اﷲ اﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ اﻟﺮﺣﯿﻢ In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Any tawaf which is fard or wajib, it is necessary to perform it whilst walking. If someone performs the aforementioned tawaf (i.e. fard or wajib) on a hoverboard, then he must repeat his tawaf as long as he is still in Makkah or sacrifice a goat or sheep in the Haram if he returns home.

Nevertheless, if he made tawaf via hoverboard due to a valid excuse (e.g. sickness or old age which prevented him from walking), then his tawaf would be valid, and he would not have to repeat the tawaf nor sacrifice. However, if one cannot perform the tawaf walking, it would be better to use a wheelchair because performing tawaf via hoverboard in Al-Masjid Al-Haram is unmannerly. On the other hand, if one commenced a nafl (optional) tawaf on a wheelchair or hoverboard (with or without an excuse), then the tawaf would be valid, however this is contrary to the Sunnah.

The above mentioned rulings and conditions also apply to tawaf on a helicopter. Principally, tawaf must be performed within the boundaries of Al-Masjid Al-Haram, thus if anyone were to circumambulate the Kaba outside the Masjid’s boundaries, then the tawaf would not be valid. [1]

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Mohammad Ahsan Osmani Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] Teacher of the Hajj Pilgrims: p. 149-150 (Darul-Ishaat); Badai Al-Sanai: v. 3, p. 60 (Dar Al-Nashr); Al-Bahr Al-Raiq: v. 2, p. 576 (Maktaba Rasheedia); Fatawa Hindiya: v. 1. p. 271 (DKI); Hashiya Irshad Al-Sari ila Manasik Al-Mullah Ali Al-Qari: p. 215 (Maktaba Imdadia); Anwaar e Manasik: p. 361 (Maktaba Yusufia Deoband); Haj wa Umrah Key Masaail Ka Encyclopedia: v. 4, p. 315 (Baytul Ammar Karachi); Ghunyatu Al-Nasik fi Bughyatil Manasik: p. 185