When Ali Al Awadhi Swam Around the Ka'aba During Makkah’s 1941 Flood

Ali Al Awadhi performed tawaf by swimming around the Ka'aba during the massive flood that struck Makkah in 1941. Remembered eighty-four years later, his unusual act of devotion became a symbol of steadfast faith in the face of overwhelming water.

Tawaf, the ritual of going around the Ka'aba, is part of both Hajj and Umrah. For Al Awadhi, performing it during the flood meant swimming around the sacred structure rather than making the circuit on foot.

His dedication amid the floodwaters has remained one of Makkah’s memorable stories of devotion, recalled for the determination he showed in carrying out the ritual despite the conditions.