1. Uttering the intention for tawaf verbally, such as saying:
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّيْ نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أَطُوْفَ طَوَافَ الْعُمْرَةِ سَبْعَةَ أَشْوَاطٍ .
It should be remembered that there is no prescribed practice of verbally uttering the intention for any act of worship. Only when commencing Hajj or Umrah has it been mentioned in the hadith to make the intention by saying “Labbayka Hajjan,” “Labbayka Umratan,” or “Labbayka Hajjan wa Umratan” for the first time; nowhere else.
2. Reciting a separate, specific supplication for each circuit of tawaf. Apart from between the two corners, no specific supplication has been narrated from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, for any other place. However, it is best to supplicate using the fundamental supplications mentioned in the Qur’an and hadith. Likewise, one may ask in one’s own language for any desirable matter, seeking well-being in this world and the Hereafter.
3. Causing hardship to people by adding to the crowd while trying to kiss the Black Stone. Kissing the Black Stone is Sunnah. On the other hand, causing hardship to people is haram. It is not permissible for a Muslim to become involved in something haram while trying to perform a Sunnah. Therefore, if it is possible to kiss it easily, one should do so; otherwise, one should gesture toward it with the right hand, say the takbir, and complete the tawaf.
4. Touching the covering of the Ka‘bah or Maqam Ibrahim and reciting a specific supplication for this purpose. This practice is not prescribed by the Shari‘ah, and there is no evidence that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did so. Nor is there any precedent of any of the Companions doing so. Had this practice been good, they would certainly have done it before us. Kissing the hand after touching the Yemeni Corner, or kissing the Yemeni Corner directly, is contrary to the Sunnah. If it is not possible to touch the Yemeni Corner, gesturing toward it and saying the takbir are not prescribed by the Shari‘ah. Therefore, do not touch anything of the House of Allah other than the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not touch anything other than these two. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) was performing tawaf around the House of Allah with Mu‘awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him). When Mu‘awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) touched all the corners of the House of Allah, Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him, “Why are you touching all the corners? The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not touch all the corners.” Mu‘awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Nothing of the Ka‘bah should be left untouched.” Upon hearing this, Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) recited:
﴿ لَّقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِي رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٞ﴾ [الاحزاب: ٢١]
“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example.” [Surah al-Ahzab: 21] Mu‘awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) accepted his words and said, “You have spoken correctly.”[1]
5. Many people think that the two rak‘ahs of prayer after tawaf must be performed behind Maqam Ibrahim. Remember that if it is not possible to perform them there easily, they may be performed anywhere in al-Masjid al-Haram, or even outside the Haram. ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and other Companions also did so.[2]
6. Women leaving their faces uncovered and displaying their beauty during tawaf. This is completely prohibited. How can Allah’s command be violated in such a sacred place and during such a great act of worship?
7. Failing to keep the Ka‘bah on one’s left during tawaf, whatever the reason may be. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
«لتأخُذُوا عَنِّى مَنَاسِكَكُمْ».
“Learn your Hajj rites from me.”[3] Therefore, for the tawaf to be valid, there is no alternative to keeping the Ka‘bah on one’s left.
8. Tawaf will not be valid if it is performed through the interior of the Hijr—that is, the enclosed area adjoining the Ka‘bah—because it is part of the Ka‘bah itself. ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “I wished to enter the Ka‘bah and perform prayer there. So the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, took me by the hand, led me into the Hijr, and said:
«صَلِّى فِى الْحِجْرِ إِذَا أَرَدْتِ دُخُولَ الْبَيْتِ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ قِطْعَةٌ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ فَإِنَّ قَوْمَكِ اقْتَصَرُوا حِينَ بَنَوُا الْكَعْبَةَ فَأَخْرَجُوهُ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ».
“If you wish to enter the Ka‘bah, then perform prayer in the Hijr, for it is part of the Ka‘bah. When your people—the Quraysh—rebuilt the Ka‘bah during the Age of Ignorance, they made it smaller and left this section outside the Ka‘bah.”[4]
9. The belief held by some people that iḍṭibā‘ must be maintained from the time of entering ihram until the completion of Hajj is incorrect. Many also remain in the state of iḍṭibā‘ while performing prayer, which is also incorrect, because the prescribed practice during prayer is to keep the shoulders covered.
[1]. Musnad Ahmad: 1877.
[2]. Bukhari: Book of Hajj.
[3]. Muslim: 1297.
[4]. Tirmidhi: 786; Bukhari: 1586; Muslim: 1333.