الطواف al-Ifadah (also called الطواف al-Ziyarah) is a ركن (pillar) of الحج — it is absolutely واجب and الحج is invalid without it. It is performed after the stoning, sacrifice, and shaving/trimming on the 10th of ذو الحجة. The method is 7 circuits around the الكعبة starting from the الحجر الأسود. There is NO raml or idtiba in this الطواف. After this الطواف, all الإحرام restrictions are fully lifted.
الطواف al-Ifadah should ideally be performed on the 10th of ذو الحجة after: stoning الجمرات al-Aqaba, offering the sacrifice (هدي), and shaving (الحلق) or trimming (التقصير) the hair. This sequence is the سنة order, though scholars differ on whether the order is واجب.
Travel from منى to المسجد الحرام in مكة. This journey takes 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on traffic. You are no longer in الإحرام (or in partial الإحرام), so regular clothing is worn. Plan your timing to avoid peak congestion.
These are the most frequent errors pilgrims make during this stage of Hajj.
Scholarly references supporting this guidance from established Islamic sources.
Begin at the الحجر الأسود corner. Face it, point with your right hand if you cannot touch it, and say 'Bismillah, Allahu Akbar.' Begin walking counterclockwise with the الكعبة on your left. Unlike الطواف al-Qudum, there is NO raml and NO idtiba in this الطواف — walk at a normal pace throughout all seven circuits.
Complete all seven circuits around the الكعبة, making sincere دعاء, dhikr, and القرآن recitation as you walk. Between the Yemeni Corner and the الحجر الأسود, recite: 'Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah wa fil-akhirati hasanah waqina adhab al-nar.' Keep count carefully.
After completing seven circuits, pray two ركعة behind مقام إبراهيم or anywhere in the مسجد if the area is crowded. Recite Surah al-Kafirun in the first ركعة and Surah al-Ikhlas in the second. Then drink زمزم water with دعاء.
After الطواف al-Ifadah, perform السعي between الصفا and المروة if you have not already done so. For الحج Tamattu الحجاج, this السعي is mandatory and separate from the العمرة السعي. For الحج Ifrad and Qiran الحجاج who performed السعي after الطواف al-Qudum, they do not need to repeat it. After completing this الطواف and السعي, all الإحرام restrictions are fully lifted.