An Inquiry into the Verse ﴾and go around the Ancient House.﴿ (Q. 22: 29) in Relation to Ṭawāf al-Nisā Based on Exegetical Traditions

The present research delves into the Qur’anic root of ṭawāf al-nisā (second circumambulation after which one’s wife becomes lawful) in the Qur’an based on the exegetical traditions. Under the interpretation of the verse, ﴾and go around the Ancient House﴿ some traditions have been related from the Infallible Imams (A.S.) concerning the interpretation of the verse and its application to ṭawāf al-nisā. While examining these traditions and another tradition that has been related from the two major sects (of Shī‘a and Sunnī), it can be said that the verse is brief in this respect and, on the other hand, given the weakness of the sanad of the traditions that have interpreted it to ṭawāf al-nisā, one cannot rely on them. The most clear implication of the verse and the strength of the exegetical traditions that have interpreted it to pilgrimage circumambulation (ṭawāf al-ziyāra) and the lack of report of ṭawāf al-nisā in the Prophet’s (S.A.W.) Hajj and the Infallible Imams (A.S.) prior to Imam Bāqir and Imam Ṣādiq (A.S.), this interpretation is preferable and ṭawāf al-nisā is provable through the traditions.