Is it permissible to combine the intention for performing tawaf al-ifada and tawaf al-wada'?
Question
Is it permissible to combine the intention for performing tawaf al-ifada and tawaf al-wada'?
Answer
The majority of scholars have maintained that tawaf al-wada' [farewell circumambulation] is obligatory. Maliki scholars, Dawud, Ibn Al-Mundhir, Al-Shafi'i in one of his opinions, and Imam Ahmed in one of his opinions (may God have mercy on them all), have all stated that tawaf al-wada' is a Sunnah since it has been waived for a woman in menstruation.
Maliki and Hanbali scholars have permitted combining tawaf al-ifada [going-forth circumambulation] and tawaf al-wada' based on the fact that the last act a person does in connection to his pilgrimage is to circumambulate the Ka'ba and this is accomplished by performing tawaf al-ifada.
The ruling
It is permissible to delay tawaf al-ifada till just before departing from Mecca. It suffices for tawaf al-wada' and there is no harm in performing sa'y [going between Safa and Marwa] after it.
And God the Almighty knows best.