The Sunnahs of Tawaf

1. Ash-Shaf'i, Ibn Al Mondher, and Ahmad held that Tawaf on foot is a Sunnah. However, others held that it is a requisite condition. Accordingly, if the Muhrim performed Tawaf riding a mount or carried by others, his Tawaf is judged as valid but he must make sacrifice particularly if he is not able to remake it again.  

2. Al Idtiba' (uncovering the Muhrim's shoulder) is by consensus a Sunnah in the Tawaf of 'Umrah and to one Tawaf of the Tawafs of Hajj - preferably Tawaf Al Qudum or arrival Circumambulation. This privilege is exclusive to males during Tawaf only and not afterwards. Idtiba' means that the Muhrim puts on his Ihram garb leaving his right shoulder uncovered, bringing his Ihram up from under his armpit while covering the left shoulder, Idtiba' is not a Sunnah in Sa'i between Safa and Marwah. 

3. Ramal (walking fast vigorously moving the shoulders and taking small steps giving a sense of strength and energy) is a Sunnah. There is consensus among the scholars that Ramal is a Sunnah in the first three rounds of Circumambulation. The Muhrim should jog throughout each round of Tawaf. A group of the scholars held that the Muhrim should jog throughout the round except for two corners; the Yemeni and the Black Stone. I am of the opinion that the first view has much to commend it. Ramal is a Sunnah in Tawaf of the 'Umrah and the Tawaf which is immediately followed by Sa'i in Hajj, e.g. Tawaf Al Qudum (the arrival Circumambulation) or Tawaf Ifada (the return from Mina Circumambulation). 

4. It is a Sunnah to face the Black Stone at the start of the Tawaf. If it is possible, the Muhrim should touch and kiss it. If this is not possible, he should touch it with a stick then kiss it. If this is also not possible he should point at it. He should not crowd others around the Black Stone lest he should hurt himself or others. As for women, they should strive to avoid the crowd and stay at a distance from it as much as possible. The Muhrim may prostrate three times, if possible in honor of the Black Stone as a sign of allegiance to Allah the Almighty. He is allowed to cry, say 'there is no god but Allah and Allah is the Great' then supplicate Allah for whatever he wants, raising his hands. It is reported that when the Muhrim faces the Block Stone, touches it with his hand, or points in its direction, he should say, '.. in the name of Allah. Allah is the Great. O Allah! I begin this Tawaf believing in You, affirming the truth of Your Book, fulfilling my covenant with You, and, following the example of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.)'. It is a Sunnah to touch in every round the Yemeni corner, if possible. It is the southern corner directly before that of Black stone. It is definitely not a Sunnah to kiss or to cling on to it as some people do. 

5. It is a Sunnah to supplicate Allah during Tawaf. Here is a list of the reported supplications: 'O Allah! let this be an accepted Hajj, with sins forgiven and a well-appreciated effort', 'O my Lord, forgive us and have mercy upon us, pardon our sins that You only know, You are the Most Honored and Dignified. O Allah! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire' and 'O Allah! Let me satisfied with what You provided. O Allah! Bless it for me. O Allah! Substitute every good thing that I missed with something good. Then, the Muhrim should call to mind all his wishes and demands and supplicate Allah to grant them to him. It is a Sunnah to supplicate to Allah as possible with any of the supplications that one feels comfortable with. However, it is preferred to say some of the supplications which were reported from the Prophet (P.B.U.H.). The Muhrim may recite the Qur'an while performing Tawaf. The majority of Scholars held this view. He should not talk about other thing besides the remembrance of Allah so that he maintains this divine atmosphere. He should stay as close as possible to the Ka'bah during Tawaf provided that he doesn't crowd or hurt others in the process. It is preferred that women keep apart from men and wait until men become fewer in number then perform Tawaf. Throughout Tawaf, the Muhrim should surrender himself to Allah in submission and humbleness. He should revive his heart with His remembrance. He should admit his sins and supplicate for Allah's Forgiveness. He should persist in his supplications for Allah's Forgiveness and Mercy from His torture and wrath. The supplication that some people take as prescribed for Tawaf have no authenticity. 

6. After Tawaf, the Muhrim should go to the Station of Ibrahim - it is to the east of Ka'bah and it is covered with glass. He should offer two rak'at prayer at the station of Ibrahim. If this is not possible then he should pray at any other place in the Sacred Mosque, whether inside or outside it. Some scholars held that it is a Sunnah, others held that it is an essential condition. In this prayer it is a Sunnah to recite Surat Al Kafiroun in the first rak'ah and Surat Al Ikhlas in the Second rak'ah after, reciting Al-Fatihah. If the Muhrim is performing Hajj on behalf of others, he should pray with the intention of praying on behalf of this person. If a person performed Tawaf with a minor then performed this prayer, he should perform them on the minor's behalf. It is preferred to supplicate Allah as much as possible during this prayer. 

7. Upon completion of the two Rak'at after the seven rounds of the Tawaf, it is preferred to go to Zamzam well and drink as much as one can from it. He should drink it with the intention and hope for the best for him in this life and the Hereafter. He should face the direction of Ka'bah while drinking it. Ibn Abbas used to supplicate Allah, whenever he drank from Zamzam water: 'O Allah! Grant me beneficial knowledge, bountiful provision, and a healing from every disease' It is allowed to take some Zamzam water when the Muhrim travels home

Hajj And Umrah Guides, Pilgrimage Essentials, Mecca & Medina Topics Links:

Advice To Pilgrims | A Step by step Hajj and 'Umrah | Adhkar (Pertaining to the remembrance of Allah) | A Lasting Word For Hajj And 'Umrah | An Account of the Miqat | An Account of visiting the Prophet's Mosque | Ayaam at-Tashreeq | Binding on the pilgrim to refrain from sins | Command about the Menstruating and similar women | Conditional Ihram | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day One | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Two | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Three | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Four | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Five | Day by Day Rites of Hajj - Day Six | Day of Arafah | Day to Day Activities of Hajj | Dhabh | Duties of pilgrims at 'Arafah | Entering Mecca | Entering Al-Masjid-al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) and Tawaf | Errors Often Committed by Pilgrims | Etiquette of Ihram | Etiquette of Visiting the Prophet's (P.B.U.H) Grave | Farewell Pilgrimage of the Messenger of Allah | Farewell Tawaf | Farewell Tawaf is binding on everyone except the menstruating and women with post childbirth bleeding | Fixed time for Hajj | Fixed time for Hajj | Four Khutbahs in Hajj | Hajj in Pre-Islamic Times | Hajj of a woman | Hajj, Umrah & Ziyarah At a Glance | Halq or Qass | Halq or Qasr: Shaving or Clipping | Ihram | Ihram for youngsters | Ihram: Introduction And Significance | Innovations of `Arafah | Innovations Before Ihraam | Innovations of Hajj, `Umra and Visiting Madinah | Innovations of Ihraam and Talbiyyah, etc. | Innovations of Muzdalifah | Innovations of Sacrifice and Shaving the Head | Innovations of Sa'y Between Safaa and Marwah | Innovations of Stoning | Innovations of Tawaaf | Innovations of Visiting Madinat-ul-Munawwarah | Innovations of Visiting Bait-ul-Maqdis | Innovations: Various Innovations | Istilaam | Kinds of Ihram | Leaving Arafah to spend night in Al Muzdalefah | Many `Umrahs after Hajj is not encouraged by the Shari`ah | Maqaam Ibraaheem | Meeqaat | Merits of Hajj | Merits of 'Umrah | Minaa | Neglecting and delaying the throwing of pebbles | No Specific Supplication for Tawaf and Sa'y | Not allowed to shave the beard | Not obligatory to visit the Prophet's Mosque | Objective of Hajj - To seek the Divine Pleasure | Obligations during Hajj and Umrah | Performing Hajj on behalf of others | Permitted and Forbidden things in the State of Ihram | Pilgrim with Sacrificial Animal in the month of Hajj should intend Qiran (accompanied Hajj) and the one | Pillars of Hajj | Prayers at Arafah | Preparations for Hajj, Umrah and travelling to the holy lands | Preparing for Hajj or 'Umrah | Prerequisites and Sunnahs of valid Tawaf | Ramy | Reaching Miqat at a Time other than the Hajj Season | Regulations Concerning Hady (Sacrificial animals) | Restrictions of Ihram | Rites, obligations and Sunnahs of Umrah | Sa'y | Sa'y between Safa and Marwah | Sa'y and its rituals | Sacrificial animals | Shaving or clipping hair | Sunnah and allowed throwing | Sunnahs of Tawaf | Supplication at the beginning of the journey | Supplication on entering the Mosque | Supplications at Arafah | Supplications: Some All-Inclusive Supplications | Supplications: Some Supplications which may Be Recited At 'Arafat, at the Sacred Sites, and at Other Places of Supplication | Talbeeyah | Tawaaf | Tawaaf al-Ifaadah | Throwing Al Jemar | Throwing pebbles on behalf of other people | Types of Hajj | Umrah | Veiling and giving up the display of beauty is compulsory for women | Verdict on spending the night at Mina | Visitation of the Prophet's Mosque | Visiting Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi | Visiting Quba Mosque and Al-Baqi' cemetery | What a Pilgrim should do when he reaches the Miqat | What Is Required of the Pilgrims | What is allowed to a Muhrim | Where to pick the pebbles from and the number and size of pebbles | Woman's Hajj with Mahram, expenses of Hajj, taking husband's permission | Woman may enter into the Ihram in any dress | Wuqoof 'Arafaat | Wuqoof Muzdalifah | Zamzam