Can তাওয়াফ be performed by proxy for someone who is unable to do it themselves?

The question of performing তাওয়াফ by proxy for someone who is unable to perform it themselves is a nuanced one. The majority of scholars — including Ibn Baz and the Permanent Committee — hold that তাওয়াফ cannot be delegated as an isolated act. If a হাজী is present in মক্কা মুকাররমা but unable to walk, they should be carried in a wheelchair or on a stretcher during তাওয়াফ, as নবী করীম himself performed তাওয়াফ while riding. The তাওয়াফ performed while being carried is fully valid.

However, if a person is completely unable to perform তাওয়াফ even while being carried — for example, due to severe illness, unconsciousness, or a condition that prevents any movement — scholars differ. Some scholars hold that a companion may perform তাওয়াফ on their behalf while they remain in their lodging, but this is a minority view. The majority position, held by Ibn Baz and Ibn Uthaymeen, is that তাওয়াফ cannot be delegated separately from the entire হজ্জ. Instead, if a person cannot perform the rites at all, they should appoint a proxy for the entire হজ্জ or উমরাহ, not for individual rites.

The exception is তাওয়াফ al-Ifadah for a person who performed all other হজ্জ rites but then became unable to perform this তাওয়াফ. Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen stated that such a person should wait until they recover, even if it takes time, because তাওয়াফ al-Ifadah is a rukn (pillar) of হজ্জ and cannot be waived. If recovery is not expected, they remain in a state of partial ইহরাম until they can perform it or delegate it — though the permissibility of delegating it alone remains disputed.