Al-Hajj Al-Mabroor

consists of two lengths of white cotton, one wrapped around the loins,
the other thrown over the left shoulder. Ihrâm clothes for women
should fully cover the body except the face, hands and feet] becomes
lawful except conjugal relations, which is only permitted after
Ifadah Tawâf [Pilgrims’ circumambulation of the Ka‘bah upon their
return from Muzdalifah]. Ifadah Tawâf is a cornerstone we must care
to perfectly perform: no more than seven ashwaat [One complete
circuit around the Ka‘bah constitutes a shawt (pl. ashwaat or shawts),
and seven ashwaat complete one Tawaf], because it is one of the
cornerstones of Hajj.
In Ifadah Tawâf the picture differs because some have already taken
off their Ihrâm clothes after they stoned Iblis (the devil) at Jamrah
Al-‘Aqabah [The closest stone pillar to Mecca, known as the Large
Jamrah or Jamrah of the supreme devil] and have put on their usual
clothes, whereas others have not yet ended their Ihrâm and
remained in their Ihrâm clothes. We also find that some have
covered one shoulder while exposing the other.
Originally, we do so during the first three shawts, same as we pace
rapidly during the first three shawts in Sa‘y [The devotional act of
walking seven times between the knolls of As-Safâ and Al-Marwah
which are located some distance from the Ka‘bah inside Al-Masjidul-
Haram; starting at As-Safâ and ending at Al-Marwa]. During these
shawts you have to go at a quick pace, an act described as following
the way of As-Sahâbah (The Companions), which means to imitate
what the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless and grant him
peace) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all)
used to do.
The cause of pacing rapidly in the first three shawts has a story
behind. The change of climate fatigued the Companions of the
Messenger (may Allah bless and grant him peace). Whereupon,
the infidels of the Quraish claimed that the fever of Yathrib [The old
name of Medina] exhausted and weakened the Muslims. When the
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