Dr. Ali Gomaa, a member of the Senior Scholars of Al-Azhar, clarified that tawaf around the Kaaba carries a ruling similar to prayer, requiring precision and presence of mind. He stated that anyone who becomes unsure of the number of completed circuits during tawaf must rely on the lower number, as certainty outweighs doubt, and any additional rounds do not invalidate the worship.

Dar Al-Ifta offered a detailed explanation, distinguishing between doubt that arises during tawaf and doubt that appears after its completion. When uncertainty occurs during the ritual, the pilgrim should rely on the lesser number of circuits, following the opinion of the majority of jurists. Imam Al-Nawawi noted that the worshipper builds upon what is certain, even if they believe they may have completed more. Imam Ibn Qudama likewise affirmed that tawaf, like prayer, is built on certainty.

The fatwa further mentioned that the Maliki school differentiates between ordinary doubt and obsessive doubt: the first is resolved by building on the lesser number, while the latter relies on the greater number and may accept the testimony of another person. The Hanafi school, on the other hand, requires repeating the entire tawaf when doubt occurs in obligatory or required tawaf, but allows building on predominant thought in voluntary tawaf.

If doubt arises after completing tawaf, Dar Al-Ifta stated that the majority of scholars agree that such doubt is disregarded, and the tawaf remains valid—similar to someone who doubts the number of prayer units after finishing the prayer. The Maliki school, however, applies the same ruling both during and after tawaf.

The final conclusion is that the pilgrim who doubts during tawaf must build on the lesser number, while doubt after completing tawaf has no effect. This is the official position affirmed by Dar Al-Ifta.