Tawaf is not merely walking around the Kaaba; it is a precise act of worship with clear conditions. If you observe the following principles, you can perform a calm, valid, and mistake-free Tawaf:

1) Prepare Before You Begin

• Make sure you have wudu (ablution) and that your body and clothing are pure.

• Form the intention in your heart: “Tawaf of Hajj/‘Umrah for the sake of obeying Allah.” Saying it aloud is not required.

• Prepare physically—comfortable footwear (if permitted), sufficient water, and a simple way to count your circuits.

 Practical tip: Many people lose their wudu in crowded conditions. If this has happened to you before, renew your wudu just before entering the Mataf area.

2) Begin Correctly: From the Black Stone, With Focus

• Stand in line with the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad), make your intention, and begin.

• The Kaaba should remain on your left side, and you move counterclockwise.

• Each time you return to the Black Stone, one circuit is completed. In total, there must be 7 circuits.

 To avoid mistakes in counting, use your fingers or a simple counter.

3) Observe the Proper Boundaries

• Tawaf must be performed in the area between the Kaaba and Maqam Ibrahim (within the Mataf).

• Do not pass through Hijr Isma'il, as it is considered part of the Kaaba; that circuit would be invalid.

• Do not move so far away that you leave the valid Tawaf boundary.

4) Maintain Continuity

• Tawaf should be performed continuously without unnecessary long breaks.

• If congregational prayer begins or there is severe crowding, you may pause and then continue (according to the rulings related to the number of completed circuits).

• Taking photos, chatting, or sitting for long periods during Tawaf may affect its validity.

5) Keep Your Heart Present; Use Simple Dhikr

• No specific supplication is obligatory; you may recite any remembrance or du‘a.

• Choose a short, repeatable dhikr to help maintain focus, such as: “SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar.”

• A good Tawaf is both juridically valid and spiritually attentive.

6) Complete It Properly: Do Not Forget the Prayer of Tawaf

After finishing the seven circuits, perform two rak‘ahs of Tawaf prayer, preferably behind Maqam Ibrahim if possible. Without this prayer, the act is incomplete.

Quick Summary (7-Point Checklist)

• Wudu and purity ✔️

• Intention in the heart ✔️

• Start at the Black Stone ✔️

• Complete 7 circuits ✔️

• Avoid passing through Hijr Isma'il ✔️

• Maintain continuity ✔️

• Perform the Tawaf prayer ✔️