Is tawaf valid if one has a minor impurity (hadath asghar)?

The majority of scholars hold that wudu is a condition for the validity of tawaf, based on the hadith: 'Tawaf around the House is prayer, except that Allah has permitted speaking during it' (narrated by al-Hakim, authenticated by al-Albani). However, Sheikh Ibn Taymiyyah and Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen held the opinion that wudu is recommended but not a strict condition for tawaf validity. If a pilgrim loses wudu during tawaf, the safer opinion is to renew wudu and resume from where the circuit was interrupted.