Short answer
Yes, if you need it. Someone who is ill, elderly or disabled may do tawaf and sa'i in a wheelchair or carried, with no penalty. In the Hanafi school walking is wajib for those who can, so riding without an excuse in the fard tawaf, the tawaf of umrah or sa'i requires a dam unless you repeat it on foot.
Walking in tawaf and sa'i is wajib for one able to walk. With an excuse, riding or being carried is valid and free of penalty. Without an excuse, a dam is due for the fard tawaf, the tawaf of umrah and sa'i, unless repeated on foot. The person pushing may intend tawaf for himself as well.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Walking is sunnah, so riding without an excuse is valid with no penalty, though walking is better.
Explanation
Umm Salamah complained to the Prophet ﷺ that she was ill, and he told her to do tawaf behind the people while riding. He himself did tawaf on a camel in the Farewell Hajj so that people could see him and ask him questions. Hanafi jurists take these as permission for those with a need, and keep walking as wajib for the able.
- Who may ride: the ill, the elderly, the disabled, pregnant women who struggle, and anyone whom walking would genuinely harm.
- Where: the Haram has wheelchair routes on the upper floors for tawaf and sa'i, and electric carts. These are valid (see tawaf on the upper floors).
- The person pushing: in the Hanafi school he can intend his own tawaf and the rider's at the same time if both are in the right state.
- Carrying a child: the same; see children's Hajj.
- No excuse: a dam for the fard tawaf, the tawaf of umrah and sa'i, unless you redo it walking. Riding in the farewell tawaf without an excuse carries a lesser penalty; ask a scholar.
Wudu is still needed for tawaf, so plan bathroom breaks before you start (see wudu for tawaf). If you are fit but tired, rest and continue on foot rather than riding.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:286
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا ٱكْتَسَبَتْ ۗ رَبَّنَا لَا تُؤَاخِذْنَآ إِن نَّسِينَآ أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَآ إِصْرًۭا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا ۚ رَبَّنَا وَلَا تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِۦ ۖ وَٱعْفُ عَنَّا وَٱغْفِرْ لَنَا وَٱرْحَمْنَآ ۚ أَنتَ مَوْلَىٰنَا فَٱنصُرْنَا عَلَى ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ ﴿٢٨٦﴾
Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people."
Worship is according to ability.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1619
Sahih... طوفي من وراء الناس وأنت راكبة ...
"Do tawaf behind the people while you are riding."
The ill may do tawaf riding.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1607
Sahih... طاف النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في حجة الوداع على بعير ...
"The Prophet did tawaf on a camel in the Farewell Hajj."
Riding in tawaf is valid.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Hajj, bab al-jinayat. A dam for riding in tawaf without an excuse, unless repeated.
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Manasik, chapter on tawaf. Walking is wajib in tawaf and sa'i for the able; the carrier's intention.
- al-Majmu' (Nawawi), Kitab al-Hajj, bab al-tawaf. The Shafi'i view that walking is sunnah.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.