Ruling on Missing Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah Due to Menstruation
Source: Fatāwā Arkan-e-Islam
A woman began menstruating before performing Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah, and she belongs to a country outside Saudi Arabia. Her departure from Makkah is near, and returning later to perform Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah is not feasible. What should she do in this situation?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
If the situation is exactly as described — the woman has not yet performed Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah, her menstrual period has started, and it is difficult for her to stay longer in Makkah or return later — then in such a case, it is permissible for her to choose one of the following two legitimate options:
① Use of Blood-Stopping Injection:
◈ She may take an injection that stops menstrual bleeding,
◈ After which she may perform Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah.
◈ Condition: There must be no harm or side effects from the injection.
② Perform Ṭawāf with a Strong Pad or Cloth:
◈ She may tie a strong pad or cloth (tight enough to prevent blood from leaking into the mosque),
◈ And then perform Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah out of necessity, while still menstruating.
◈ This is the stronger and more correct view, and it is the opinion adopted by Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله.
If the woman does not opt for either method, then one of the following two situations would apply:
◈ She will continue to remain in Ihrām,
◈ Her husband will not be lawful for her (i.e., marital relations will not be permissible),
◈ If she is unmarried, marriage will not be allowed either.
◈ She will be regarded as a Muḥṣar, meaning someone unable to complete the Hajj rituals.
◈ In this case, she must:
• Slaughter a sacrificial animal,
• Exit the state of Ihrām,
• But her Hajj will not be valid.
These two alternatives — remaining in Ihrām or invalidating the Hajj — are both very difficult and burdensome.
Hence, the stronger and more valid opinion is what Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله has chosen under the principle of necessity.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿ وَما جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ ﴾
(Surah al-Ḥajj, 78)
“And He has not placed upon you in the religion any hardship.”
And He also says:
﴿ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ ﴾
(Surah al-Baqarah, 185)
“Allah intends for you ease and does not intend hardship for you.”
If the woman decides that she will return later to perform Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah, then:
◈ There is no issue in making this intention,
◈ However, until she actually performs Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah,
• She does not attain the second release (Taḥallul Thānī),
• Therefore, she remains unlawful for her husband during this period.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatāwā Arkan-e-Islam
❖ Question
A woman began menstruating before performing Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah, and she belongs to a country outside Saudi Arabia. Her departure from Makkah is near, and returning later to perform Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah is not feasible. What should she do in this situation?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
If the situation is exactly as described — the woman has not yet performed Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah, her menstrual period has started, and it is difficult for her to stay longer in Makkah or return later — then in such a case, it is permissible for her to choose one of the following two legitimate options:
❖ Two Permissible Options
① Use of Blood-Stopping Injection:
◈ She may take an injection that stops menstrual bleeding,
◈ After which she may perform Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah.
◈ Condition: There must be no harm or side effects from the injection.
② Perform Ṭawāf with a Strong Pad or Cloth:
◈ She may tie a strong pad or cloth (tight enough to prevent blood from leaking into the mosque),
◈ And then perform Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah out of necessity, while still menstruating.
◈ This is the stronger and more correct view, and it is the opinion adopted by Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله.
❖ If Neither Option Is Chosen
If the woman does not opt for either method, then one of the following two situations would apply:
(1) Remain in the State of Ihrām:
◈ She will continue to remain in Ihrām,
◈ Her husband will not be lawful for her (i.e., marital relations will not be permissible),
◈ If she is unmarried, marriage will not be allowed either.
(2) Considered as Muḥṣar (Prevented from Completing Hajj):
◈ She will be regarded as a Muḥṣar, meaning someone unable to complete the Hajj rituals.
◈ In this case, she must:
• Slaughter a sacrificial animal,
• Exit the state of Ihrām,
• But her Hajj will not be valid.
❖ Stronger (Rājiḥ) View
These two alternatives — remaining in Ihrām or invalidating the Hajj — are both very difficult and burdensome.
Hence, the stronger and more valid opinion is what Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله has chosen under the principle of necessity.
❖ Qur’ānic Evidence
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿ وَما جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ ﴾
(Surah al-Ḥajj, 78)
“And He has not placed upon you in the religion any hardship.”
And He also says:
﴿ يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ ﴾
(Surah al-Baqarah, 185)
“Allah intends for you ease and does not intend hardship for you.”
❖ Regarding Her Husband Being Lawful (Ḥalāl)
If the woman decides that she will return later to perform Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah, then:
◈ There is no issue in making this intention,
◈ However, until she actually performs Ṭawāf al-Ifāḍah,
• She does not attain the second release (Taḥallul Thānī),
• Therefore, she remains unlawful for her husband during this period.
ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
