Fatwa: Dar al-Ifta Committee
Question:
What is the ruling for a woman who starts menstruating during the days of Hajj? Will this Hajj suffice for her?
Answer:
If a woman begins menstruating during the days of Hajj, she should perform all the rituals like other pilgrims. However, she should not perform Tawaf of the Kaaba and Sa'i between Safa and Marwah until she is pure. After her menstruation ends, she should perform Ghusl (ritual purification), then proceed with Tawaf of the House (Kaaba) and Sa'i between Safa and Marwah. If her menstruation begins at a point where only Tawaf al-Wada (the farewell Tawaf) is left among the rituals of Hajj, she may depart without performing Tawaf al-Wada, and there will be no penalty on her; her Hajj will still be valid. The evidence for this ruling is the statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him):
"When a woman in a state of postpartum bleeding or menstruation reaches the Miqat (the place for assuming Ihram), she should perform Ghusl, assume Ihram, and perform all the rituals except Tawaf of the House."
(Sunan Abi Dawood and Tirmidhi on the authority of Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them)
It is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that she started menstruating before performing the rites of Umrah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed her:
"Assume Ihram for Hajj, but do not perform Tawaf of the House until you are pure. Perform all the other Hajj rituals like the other pilgrims, and incorporate Hajj into your Umrah (meaning switch the order: perform Hajj first, and then Umrah later)."
Additionally, it is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that when the wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Sayyidah Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her), began menstruating, she mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). He responded:
"Will she hold us back?" They replied, "She has already performed Tawaf al-Ifadah." He said, "Then there is no problem."
(Sahih Bukhari, Book of Hajj)
Another narration states:
"Will she hold us back?" I said, "O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), she has already performed Tawaf al-Ifadah and has menstruated after it." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "Then she may proceed."
May Allah's blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and companions.
Question:
What is the ruling for a woman who starts menstruating during the days of Hajj? Will this Hajj suffice for her?
Answer:
If a woman begins menstruating during the days of Hajj, she should perform all the rituals like other pilgrims. However, she should not perform Tawaf of the Kaaba and Sa'i between Safa and Marwah until she is pure. After her menstruation ends, she should perform Ghusl (ritual purification), then proceed with Tawaf of the House (Kaaba) and Sa'i between Safa and Marwah. If her menstruation begins at a point where only Tawaf al-Wada (the farewell Tawaf) is left among the rituals of Hajj, she may depart without performing Tawaf al-Wada, and there will be no penalty on her; her Hajj will still be valid. The evidence for this ruling is the statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him):
"When a woman in a state of postpartum bleeding or menstruation reaches the Miqat (the place for assuming Ihram), she should perform Ghusl, assume Ihram, and perform all the rituals except Tawaf of the House."
(Sunan Abi Dawood and Tirmidhi on the authority of Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them)
It is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that she started menstruating before performing the rites of Umrah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed her:
"Assume Ihram for Hajj, but do not perform Tawaf of the House until you are pure. Perform all the other Hajj rituals like the other pilgrims, and incorporate Hajj into your Umrah (meaning switch the order: perform Hajj first, and then Umrah later)."
Additionally, it is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that when the wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Sayyidah Safiyyah (may Allah be pleased with her), began menstruating, she mentioned this to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). He responded:
"Will she hold us back?" They replied, "She has already performed Tawaf al-Ifadah." He said, "Then there is no problem."
(Sahih Bukhari, Book of Hajj)
Another narration states:
"Will she hold us back?" I said, "O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), she has already performed Tawaf al-Ifadah and has menstruated after it." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "Then she may proceed."
May Allah's blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and companions.