Q- Can a woman perform Hajj if her bleeding ceases before the forty-day post-natal period? And if her bleeding does not stop, what should she do if she has already made the intention for Hajj?

A- If her post-natal bleeding stops before forty days, she should perform Ghusl (i.e. ritual bath), do her formal prayers and perform all the rites of Hajj, including the Tawaaf, because there is no minimum limit for the period of post-natal bleeding.

However, if the bleeding continues and she has already made her intention for Hajj, she should perform Ghusl, wear a sanitary napkin and put on her Ihraam. The proof for this is the case of 'Asmaa' Bint 'Umays, may Allah be pleased with her, wife of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, who delivered a baby when the Prophet stopped at Thul-Hulayfah during his farewell Hajj. She asked the Prophet what she should do, and he replied, “Perform Ghusl, wrap a cloth around your privates and assume Ihraam.” She should then do all of the rites of Hajj except for the Tawaaf, which should only be done after her bleeding has stopped. The Prophet prohibited menstruating women from performing Tawaaf. He told 'Aa'ishah, may Allah be please with her: “Do everything that one performing Hajj does, except circling the Ka’bah, until your menses stops”. [Al-Bukhari] Post-natal bleeding is similar to menses; consequently the same ruling applies.

Q- How can a menstruating woman pray the necessary two Rak'ahs of formal prayer at the time of putting on the Ihraam?

A- Wearing Ihraam has no special formal prayer accompanying it, because it was not recorded that the Prophet instructed his companions, may Allah be pleased with them, to perform this prayer, nor did he do it himself, nor did he approve of others doing it.

Q- A woman said: "I went to '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- Her 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 Allah be pleased with her, wife of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, mentioned above.

However, the menstruating woman who assumes Ihraam should not enter the Mosque nor make Tawaaf until her bleeding stops. In this regard, the Prophet told his wife ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah 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’y, 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’y because purity is not a condition for Sa’y.

Q- Is the place of Sa’y 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'y area was originally included in the Mosque, it would prevent the menstruating woman from making Sa'y. If a woman begins menstruating after completing the Tawaaf, she can go ahead and make Sa'y because the area of Sa'y 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'y 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.

Q- After a menstruating woman arrived at the Meeqaat, she made Ghusl and donned her Ihraam. When she came to Makkah, she remained outside of the Mosque and did not do any of the rites of Hajj or 'Umrah. She then spent two days in Mina and when her menses stopped, she made another Ghusl and performed all of the rites of ‘Umrah. However, while she was making Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah for Hajj, her menses came back, but she was too shy to say anything to her guardian and went on to complete the rites of Hajj. What is the rule governing such a case?

A- If the blood, which came during Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah, was in fact menstrual blood, her Tawaaf was invalid, in which case she would be required to return to Makkah to redo it. She should assume her Ihraam at the Meeqaat with the intention for performing ‘Umrah, do the rites of ‘Umrah, cut her hair then make Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah. If she is unable to return to Makkah, due to circumstances beyond her control, her Hajj is valid because she could not do more than what she did.

If, on the other hand, the blood was not menstrual, but due to the stress of the crowds, etc., her Tawaaf was correct and her Hajj valid.

Q- What is the ruling concerning a woman who wore Ihraam with the intention of performing ‘Umrah, but her period started after she reached Makkah and her Mahram (i.e. a non-marriageable accompanying relative) is obliged to leave Makkah immediately if she does not have any relatives in Makkah?

A- If she is living in Saudi Arabia, she should return home with her Mahram, but remain in a state of Ihraam. After her menses have stopped, she should return to Makkah because returning is not difficult for her. However, if she came from abroad and returning would be very difficult for her, she should wear a sanitary napkin, make Tawaaf, Sa'y and cut her hair to complete her ‘Umrah before leaving. It is permissible for her to make Tawaaf in a state of ritual impurity under such circumstances, because dire necessity makes allowable the forbidden.

Q- A woman finished her rites of Hajj, except for Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah and Tawaaf Al-Wadaa', when her menses started, she went back home to Madeenah with the intention of coming back some time later to make the two Tawaafs. However, in ignorance she came out of her state of Ihraam and did all the things prohibited to those in a state of Ihraam. When she asked someone about returning to Makkah to complete the Tawaafs, she was told that it would be incorrect for her to make the Tawaafs, because her Hajj was invalidated. Furthermore, she was told she would have to repeat her Hajj in the coming year and sacrifice a cow or a camel. Is this ruling correct or does she have other options?

A- This is among the calamities resulting from those who pass legal rulings without sound knowledge. The woman should return to Makkah and make Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah alone as the farewell Tawaaf was not obligatory on her since she was menstruating when she left Makkah. According to Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him: "The Prophet instructed the people to make Tawaaf their last contact with the mosque.” Also because when the Prophet was informed that his wife, Safiyaah, may Allah be pleased with her, had made Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah, he said: “Then let us go”. This indicates that the farewell Tawaaf is not obligatory on the menstruating woman while Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah is. Thus, when the woman came out of Ihraam in ignorance, it did not affect her, because there is no penalty on one who breaks the rules of Ihraam in ignorance. Allah Says (what means):

"Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred." [Quran 2: 286], and also (what means):

"And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended." [Quran 33: 5].

Consequently, if a person does any of the acts which break the rules of Ihraam due to ignorance or forgetfulness, or under compulsion, there is no penalty against him/her. However, once these excuses are removed, the person must immediately stop committing the error.

Q- If a woman delivers a child on the day of Tarwiyah and begins post-natal bleeding after completing all of the major pillars of Hajj except the Tawaaf and the Sa'y, but finds that the bleeding has begun to cease after ten days, should she make Ghusl and complete the remaining pillars of Hajj?

A- She should not make Ghusl and perform Tawaaf until she is absolutely certain that her post-natal bleeding has completely stopped. Once she is certain, she should then make Ghusl and perform the Tawaaf and Sa'y. If she performs Sa'y before Tawaaf there is no harm, because when the Prophet was asked about one who did that, he replied that there was no harm.

Q- A menstruating woman put on the Ihraam with the intention of performing Hajj from As-Sayl. When she reached Makkah, she went to Jeddah out of necessity and her menses stopped there. She then made Ghusl, combed her hair and completed her Hajj. Is her Hajj considered valid, or does she have a penalty against her?

A- Yes, her Hajj is correct and there is no penalty against her.

Q- A concerned husband told the story of how he and his family came from Yanbu' to do ‘Umrah and when they reached Jeddah, his wife began to menstruate. Due to this fact, he did his ‘Umrah alone. Given this situation, he wants to know what his wife was supposed to do.

A- Regarding his wife, the ruling is that she should wait until her menses stops and then complete her ‘Umrah. When Safiyyah’s menses began, the Prophet asked, “Will she delay us?” They replied, “She has already made Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah”. He said, “Then, let us go”. His question : “Will she delay us?” is proof that the woman who menstruates before doing Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah should wait until her menses ends before circling the Ka’bah. The Tawaaf of ‘Umrah is governed by the same ruling as Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah of Hajj, because it is a fundamental pillar of ‘Umrah.

Q- A woman said, “I went to make Hajj and my menses began. I was too shy to inform anyone, so I entered the Mosque, made formal prayer, followed by Tawaaf and Sa'y.” She then asked, “What is my penalty, considering that my menses came after post-natal bleeding had ended”?

A- It is not permissible for a woman to offer formal prayer in Makkah if she is menstruating or experiencing post-natal bleeding, even if she is in her own country. Evidence for this view is based on the Prophet’s statement: “Is it not that when she menstruates she does not offer formal prayer or fast?” Muslims unanimously hold the opinion that menstruating women are not supposed to fast or pray. This woman should repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness for what she did.

As for her Tawaaf while menstruating, it was invalid. Her Sa'y, on the other hand, was valid based on the most correct opinion which permits the performance of Sa'y before Tawaaf in Hajj. Therefore, she is required to redo her Tawaaf in a state of purity, because Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah is a major pillar or Hajj, without which the second release from the state of Ihraam is incomplete. Consequently, this woman should not have sexual relations with her husband, if she is married, until she makes the Tawaaf. If she is unmarried, she cannot get married until she makes the Tawaaf.

Q- What is the woman whose menses began on the day of Arafat supposed to do?

A- She should continue her Hajj, doing everything everyone else does except Tawaaf, which should only be done after her menses has ended.

Q- If a woman began her period after completing the rite of stoning Jamrat Al-'Aqabah, but before making Tawaaf Al-Ifaadhah, what should she do if she has to return home with her husband and will be unable to come back?

A- If she is really unable to return, she should wear a sanitary napkin, make the Tawaaf and complete the remaining rites of Hajj.

Q- Is it permissible for a woman who fears that her menses will come during Hajj to use pills which prevent or delay her menses only during the Hajj period?

A- It is permissible for a woman to use pills, which prevent menses during Hajj after she has confirmed the safety of their usage from a gynecologist. She may also do so during Ramadan in order to complete the fast along with the rest of the community.

Allah Knows best.