Is ritual purity (Taharah) a condition for the validity of Tawaf?
Chapter on Mentioning Hajj and Entering Makkah
Al-Mughni
Book of Hajj
Primary text
Ritual purity from major impurity (hadath), ritual impurity (najasah), and covering the 'awrah are conditions for the validity of Tawaf. This is the famous opinion attributed to Al-Imam Ahmad, and it is the position of Malik and Al-Shafi'i. The evidence cited is the hadith from Ibn 'Abbas: 'Tawaf around the House is prayer, except that you may speak in it,' along with the narration from Abu Hurayrah that Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq announced on the Day of Sacrifice during the pilgrimage commanded by the Messenger of Allah that no polytheist should perform Hajj after that year, nor should anyone perform Tawaf around the House naked. Since Tawaf is an act of worship connected to the House, purity and covering the 'awrah should be conditions, similar to prayer, as opposed to standing (Waqf).
Supporting text
From Al-Imam Ahmad, a variation exists stating that purity is not a condition. If one performs Tawaf al-Ziyarah without purification, he must repeat it if he is still in Mecca. If he has left for his hometown, he may compensate with a sacrifice (damm). The same rule applies regarding purity from filth and covering the 'awrah. Another opinion from Ahmad states that if a person performs Tawaf al-Ziyarah while forgetting the requirement for purity, nothing is due upon him. Abu Hanifah held that none of these requirements (purity, covering, etc.) are conditions. His companions differed, with some stating these acts are obligatory and others stating they are Sunnah, arguing that since Tawaf is a pillar of Hajj, purity should not be a prerequisite, similar to the standing on Arafat.