SHAWT

One complete circuit around the Ka’bah is called as Shawt and its plural is Ashwat.

Introduction

Tawaf is the religious act of circumbulating (i.e. walking around) the Ka’bah while reciting prayers and supplications. One complete circuit around the Ka’bah constitutes a shawt (Pleural: ashwat), and seven ashwat complete one Tawaf. During Tawaf (circumbulating), the pilgrim cannot enter inside the Kaaba nor stop anywhere around it.

One complete circumambulation, or circuit, of the Ka`bah. Each circuit starts and ends at the Black Stone. Seven circuits constitute one Tawaf. ^{[1] [2]}

Quran

Allah (interpretation of the meaning), “and circumambulate the Ancient House (the Kabaat Makkah)”Qur’an.Surah Hajj 22:29

Starting place of Tawaf

Tawaaf is started from Hajr e Aswad (Balck stone) corner. The other side of Hajr E Aswad is Rukn E Yamani. From Rukn-e-Yemeni you have to recite dua " Rabbana Aatina Fid-Duniya Hasanathaw Wa Fil Aakhirathi Hasanathaw wa Qeena Aza Ban Naar. This dua should be recited from rukn e yemeni to hajreh aswad during every round of Tawaaf.

Types of Tawaf

There are many types of Tawaaf around the Kaba- 

Tawaaf al-ifaadah during Hajj, which is also called Tawaaf al-ziyaarah (Tawaaf of visiting). It takes place after the standing in ‘Arafah, on the day of al-Adha. It is one of the pillars or essential parts of the Hajj. 

Tawaaf al-qudoom (Tawaaf of arrival) for Hajj. This is done by the pilgrim who has entered Ihram for Hajj and by the pilgrim who is doing Qiraan, i.e., joining ‘Umrah and Hajj, when he reaches the Kaba. It is one of the obligatory duties or Sunnahs of Hajj – there is a difference of scholarly opinion. 

Tawaaf al-wadaa’ (the farewell Tawaaf), which is done after completing the actions of Hajj and when one has decided to leave Makkah al-Mukarramah. It is obligatory, according to the more correct of the two scholarly opinions, for all pilgrims except women who are menstruating or bleeding following childbirth, and the one who fails to do it must sacrifice an animal. ^[3]

See also

Hajj; Umrah; Tawaf; Makkah; Madina; Masjid E Haram;

References

[1] http://www.iqrasense.com/hajj/hajj-pilgrimage-rituals-of-hajj.html

[2] http://www.onislam.net/content/english/hajj/services/05.shtml

[3] http://islamqa.info/en/ref/106598