TAIVIVAF. ARAB. Circurnambulation the procession of the Muhammadan pilgrims round the Kaba at Mecca. Tawwaf bait Allah-ul-Hardrn, circumambulation of the sacred house of God, which the pilgrims are enjoined by the Koran to do seven times, the first three in a quick, the last four in a calm ordinary pace ; and each time that they pass the 'Black Stone, Hajar-ul-Aswad, they kiss it or touch it with the hand, which they immediately apply to their lips. The stone is set in silver, at the south-east corner of the Kaba at Mecca - i - Sharif, and is about seven spans from the ground. Tayf is the participle of the Arabic verb Tafa, which signifies to go round ; but is especially applied to the religious ceremony of Muhammadan pilgrims going round the Kaki at Mecca. It is the encircling of holy places so often alluded to in the Old Testament, and still practised by Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, and Muharnmadans. Psalm xxvi. 6 says, I will wash
mine hands in innocency : so will I compass thine altar, 0 Lord.' Hindu women often compass their husbands, as in Jeremiah xxxi. 22. Hindus and Buddhists circle from right to left, Romish priests and Muhammadans from left to right. The Per sian couplet says, Tuaf-i-Kaaba-i-dil kun, gar dili dari, Circle the holy place of your heart if you have a heart. The Hajar-ul-Aswad is set in silver, and is believed by Muhammadans to have fallen from paradise to the earth, along with Adam. It remained where it fell until the deluge, when it was again t,aken up to heaven, but was brought back by the angel Gabriel to Abraham, when he was building the Kaba. It is believed by them to have been white originally, but to have become black from being kissed by a woman when unwell. The Tawwaf is the Pradakshana of the Hindus.— Hamilton's Sinai, p. 152.