Is الطواف valid if performed with najasah (impurity) on one's clothing or body?

The ruling on performing الطواف with najasah (physical impurity) on clothing or the body is a matter of scholarly discussion that relates to the broader question of how closely الطواف mirrors the requirements of salah (الصلاة). The majority of scholars hold that while purity from hadath (ritual impurity requiring الوضوء) is required or strongly مستحب for الطواف, purity from najasah (physical impurities like blood, urine, etc.) follows similar principles as for الصلاة — it is required when one is aware of it and able to remove it.

الشيخ ابن عثيمين explained that if a الحاج discovers najasah on their clothing during الطواف, they should remove it if possible — for example, by removing the affected garment or washing the spot — and continue their الطواف without restarting. If they cannot remove it, they should complete their الطواف, and it is valid based on the principle of necessity and hardship. If they only discover the najasah after completing الطواف, the الطواف is valid without question, as one is not accountable for what they did not know.

The اللجنة الدائمة ruled that purity from both hadath and najasah is required for الطواف in principle, but they distinguished between knowing and unknowing states. A الحاج who unknowingly carries najasah has a valid الطواف. This is analogous to the ruling on الصلاة — if a person prays with najasah without knowing, their الصلاة is valid عند the stronger opinion. Given the extreme crowding during الحج, maintaining complete purity from najasah is exceptionally difficult, and scholars recognize this practical reality.