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Wada' (farewell: taking leave of the traveller, and the rites of departure)

وَدَاع

Wada' is the verbal noun of taking leave; the one who departs is the one who is taken leave of, since he is the one parting. 1 2 A traveller is advised to take leave of his family, brethren and friends and ask their prayers, and the one who sees him off says: 'I entrust you to God, who does not lose what is entrusted to Him'; Ibn Umar reported the words 'may God keep your faith, your trust and the last of your deeds'. 2 3 It is recommended to pray two rak'as before leaving, and to pray for those who go out to fight in God's way. 3 4 The Hanafis forbid a man kissing the mouth of another man; a Shafi'i view recommends kissing a returning traveller of the same sex. 3 4 The pilgrim takes leave of the House by the farewell circuit (tawaf al-wada'). 5

Depth

At a glance

Era
The Prophetic Era
Region
Arabia
Review
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Sacred space and pilgrimageFamily, marriage and kinshipEthics and character

Summary

Wada' is the verbal noun of taking leave, the seeing-off of a traveller; the one who departs is the one taken leave of, since he is the one parting. 1 2

What is said to the traveller

A traveller is advised to take leave of his family, brethren and friends and ask their prayers, and the one who takes leave says: 'I entrust you to God, who does not lose what is entrusted to Him.' 2 Ibn Umar reported that the traveller is told: may God keep your faith, your trust and the last of your deeds. 2 3

Two rak'as before leaving

It is recommended to pray two rak'as on deciding to leave, at home or in the mosque of one's town. 4 5

Taking leave of the fighters

The Prophet took leave of an army with prayer for them and walked with them to the Baqi' al-Gharqad before sending them off. 4

Handshake and kissing

It is reported that the Prophet ﷺ took a man's hand when he took leave of him. 3 The Hanafis hold that a man kissing another man's mouth is forbidden; the Shafi'is recommend kissing a returning traveller of the same sex. 3 4

People and things also explored

Joy and gladness (al-farah wal-surur)· Hardship and fear of sin ('anat) in marrying a slave-woman· Shahwa (desire: its effect on touch and ablution, on fasting and pilgrimage, on looking, on marriage by touch and on the breaking of the marriage bond)· Shakk (doubt in law: its kinds, the rule that certainty is not removed by doubt, and its effect on worship, contracts, penalties and evidence)· Ghadd al-basar (lowering the gaze)· Hadiyya (gift)· Hajr (abandonment and shunning: its rules for a believer, a sinner, an innovator and a wife)· Hiba (gift: its pillars, the parties, the thing given, possession, return and conditions)

Sources

  1. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.16625
  2. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.16626
  3. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.16627
  4. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.16628
  5. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.16629
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Wada' (farewell: taking leave of the traveller, and the rites of departure)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/wada-fiqh/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-23.

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Living

Practices, the Islamic year, festivals, food, dress and music by region. Related

Joy and gladness (al-farah wal-surur)

Sheikh Omar Abdelkafy sets out joy and gladness: surur as gladness free from grief, the blameworthy farah linked with pride and boasting, faith as the greatest source of gladness, happiness sought through piety and contentment rather than travel or wealth, and a cheerful face as a prophetic manner.