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Q- A woman said, "I went for 'Umrah
and crossed the meeqaat while I was menstruating so I did
not make Ihraam. I remained in Makkah until my menses
ceased and then put on my Ihraam in Makkah and made
'Umrah". She then asked, "Is what I did permissible? If not,
what should I have done"?
A- Your actions were incorrect. A woman wishing to
perform 'Umrah should not cross the meeqaat
without assuming her Ihraam, even if she is
menstruating. The proof for this is the case of 'Asmaa' bint
‘Umays, may Allaah be pleased with her, wife of Abu Bakr, may
Allaah be pleased with him, who delivered a baby during the
Prophet’s stay at Thul-Hulayfah during his farewell
Hajj. He, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, instructed her to
assume Ihraam. Since the blood from post-natal bleeding
is similar to menstrual blood, the same ruling applies.
However, the menstruating woman who assumes Ihraam,
should not enter the mosque nor make Tawaaf until her
bleeding stops. In this regard, the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi
wa sallam, told his wife ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with
her, “Do everything that one performing Hajj does, except
circling the Ka’bah, until your menses stops”. If her
menses begins after she has made Tawaaf, she should go
ahead and make the Sa’i, even though she is
menstruating. Then she should cut some of her hair signifying
the end of her ‘Umrah. It is permissible for a
menstruating woman to do Sa’i because purity is not a
condition for Sa’i. Allaah Knows best.
Q- Is the place of Sa’i a
part of the Haram? Can a menstruating woman go there? Should
one who enters the Haram from this location perform the formal
prayer for entering the mosque?
A- This area was not originally
part of the mosque. Because of that, a small wall was placed
between it and the present –day mosque. There is no doubt that
it being separate is better for people, because if the Sa’i
area was originally included in the mosque, it would prevent the
menstruating woman from making Sa’i. If a woman begins
menstruating after completing the Tawaaf, she can go
ahead and make Sa’i because the area of Sa’i is
not actually considered part of the mosque.
As
to making formal prayer for entering the mosque from there, it
could be said that one who makes Sa’i and re-enters the
mosque should make the prayer. If he did not make it, there is
no sin on him, but it would be better for him to take advantage
of the opportunity and offer two Rak'ahs considering the great
honor given to worship in the mosque. Allaah Knows best. |
