Though there are a number of Tawaaf’s during Pilgrimage, they are all essentially performed in the same way. This post provides a step-by-step guide to performing Tawaaf.

• Wudu
• Niyaah (in the Heart)

For Umrah Tawaaf (in the ‘Tamattu’ method) or Tawaaful Qudoom (in the ‘Qiran’ or ‘Irfad’ method), the following extra conditions are required,

• (+) Ihraam (adopted at Meqaat)
• (+) Expose Right Shoulder (Idtiba), for all 7 circuits (males only)
• (+) Brisk Walk (Raml), in the first 3 circuits only (males only)

Start at Hajrul-Aswad [A].

• Action: Do only 1 of the following,
  • Kiss the Black Stone (if it is possible);
  • If not, Touch with your Right hand (Istilam) and Kiss your hand;
  • If this is not possible, then Face the Black Stone and with your Right hand gesture towards it ONCE only, and do NOT kiss your hand.
• Say: only ONCE,
  • At the start of the first circuit,

  

  • Or, at the start of subsequent (following) circuits,

  

Note: A Supplication sheet for this section is available here

Proceed in an Anti-clockwise direction,

• Supplicate
• make Dhikr
• recite Quran

Note: Walk around the Hijr area NOT through it

Once you reach the Rukn-Yamani (southern corner),

• Touch it (Rukn-Yamani) with your Right hand
  • Do NOT kiss it
  • Do NOT kiss hand
  • Say only once,

  

• If you are not able to touch it (Rukn-Yamani)
  • Do NOT gesture towards it
  • Continue – proceed towards Hajrul-Aswad [A]

It is Sunnah to recite the following between the Yemenite Corner (Rukn-Yamani) and the Black Stone Corner (Hajrul-Aswad)

• Recite

Note: A Supplication sheet for this section is available here

• 1 Circuit complete
  • Once you reach the Hajrul-Aswad again you have completed 1 circuit
• Total = 7 Circuits
  • The number of circuits to perform is always 7, regardless of the type of Tawaaf. Proceed and repeat the aforementioned steps (from the Start at [A] section above) until you have completed 7 circuits in total

Upon completing 7 circuits, you will need to perform 2 Rakat prayer – proceed to the next section below.

2 Rakat Prayer

• Proceed to Maqaam Ibraheem (or anywhere in the mosque if this area is too crowded)
• Say (it is commendable to say):

Note: A Supplication sheet for this section is available here

Cover your right shoulder (if applicable). With the Maqaam between you and the Kaba* (if possible) perform 2 Rakat of prayer. It is Sunnah to recite the following in the respective Rakahs,

• 1st Rakah
  • Surah Fatiha [1]
  • Surah Kafirun [109]
• 2nd Rakah
  • Surah Fatiha [1]
  • Surah Ikhlas [112]

Note (*): It is permissible to perform the 2 Rakat prayer anywhere in the mosque

At this point you are completed (if performing Nafl Tawaaf or Tawaaful-Wadaa’)

After finishing the 2 Rakat prayer it is Sunnah to proceed to well of Zamzam and drink your fill,

• Drink Zamzam water
• Say^:

Return to Black Stone (Hajrul-Aswad) [A]

• Kiss if possible
  • Say:

  

• If it is not possible to Kiss the Black Stone
  • Do NOT gesture
  • Proceed to Sa’ee area

Note:
[a] (^) There is no particular supplication established in the Sunnah when drinking Zamzam. However, Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) used to recite the above after drinking Zamzam water.
[b] A Supplication sheet for this section is available here

Ref:

• [1] “Getting the Best out of Al-Hajj (Pilgrimage)”, By Abu Muneer Ismail Davids, Published by Darussalam, Second Edition – August, 2006, Pg. 249 – 257