Source: Urdu Commentary of ‘Umdat al-Aḥkām from the Sayings of the Best of Mankind
Translator: Ḥāfiẓ Faizullah Nāṣir
Narrated by Sayyidah ‘Ā’ishah (رضي الله عنها):
“We performed Hajj with the Prophet ﷺ and returned on the Day of Sacrifice. Ṣafiyyah (رضي الله عنها) began menstruating. The Prophet ﷺ desired from her what a man desires from his wife. I said, 'O Messenger of Allah! She is menstruating.'
He ﷺ said: 'Will she detain us?'
They replied, 'O Messenger of Allah! She has already performed the Ṭawāf of Ifāḍah on the Day of Sacrifice.'
So he ﷺ said: 'Then depart.'
In another narration:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "‘Uqray Ḥalqā!" (expressions common in Arabic vernacular).
“Did she perform the Ṭawāf on the Day of Sacrifice?”
They said, “Yes.”
He ﷺ then said: "Then let her depart."
Explanation of Terms:
This narration highlights the difference of opinion among scholars regarding the Farewell Ṭawāf:
✔ Imām Aḥmad, Abū Ḥanīfah, and one opinion of Imām al-Shāfi‘ī maintain that Ṭawāf al-Wadā‘ is obligatory, and a sacrificial animal (dam) must be offered if it is omitted.
✘ Imām Mālik holds that Ṭawāf al-Wadā‘ is neither obligatory nor sunnah, but merely recommended, and no compensation is required for omitting it, as compensation applies only to obligatory or sunnah acts.
[Al-Ifṣāḥ by Ibn Hubayrah: 1/276]
For menstruating or postnatal bleeding women, there is no obligation of Ṭawāf al-Wadā‘, but if they become pure before leaving the ḥaram, then they must perform it. If they still do not perform it—even due to an excuse—they must offer a sacrificial animal as compensation.
[Al-Iqnā‘ by al-Ḥajjāwī: 2/30]
References:
“The people were commanded that their last act should be at the House (Ka‘bah)—i.e., to perform Farewell Ṭawāf—except for menstruating women, who were exempted from this requirement.”
Explanation of Terms:
This narration reiterates the same ruling as the previous one: menstruating women are not obliged to perform the Farewell Ṭawāf, unlike others, for whom it remains a final obligatory ritual in Hajj.
References:
Translator: Ḥāfiẓ Faizullah Nāṣir
Narrated by Sayyidah ‘Ā’ishah (رضي الله عنها):
“We performed Hajj with the Prophet ﷺ and returned on the Day of Sacrifice. Ṣafiyyah (رضي الله عنها) began menstruating. The Prophet ﷺ desired from her what a man desires from his wife. I said, 'O Messenger of Allah! She is menstruating.'
He ﷺ said: 'Will she detain us?'
They replied, 'O Messenger of Allah! She has already performed the Ṭawāf of Ifāḍah on the Day of Sacrifice.'
So he ﷺ said: 'Then depart.'
In another narration:
The Prophet ﷺ said, "‘Uqray Ḥalqā!" (expressions common in Arabic vernacular).
“Did she perform the Ṭawāf on the Day of Sacrifice?”
They said, “Yes.”
He ﷺ then said: "Then let her depart."
Explanation of Terms:
- Afaḍnā: Meaning, when we returned from ‘Arafāt to Minā. (First person plural, past tense, known verb form, af‘ala)
- ‘Uqray Ḥalqā: Though they literally mean “barren” and “bald” as forms of cursing, these expressions were used idiomatically among the Arabs and did not intend real curses, similar to phrases like "Turbat Yadāk," "Takkalatka Ummuk," or "Ragima Anfuk."
This narration highlights the difference of opinion among scholars regarding the Farewell Ṭawāf:
✔ Imām Aḥmad, Abū Ḥanīfah, and one opinion of Imām al-Shāfi‘ī maintain that Ṭawāf al-Wadā‘ is obligatory, and a sacrificial animal (dam) must be offered if it is omitted.
✘ Imām Mālik holds that Ṭawāf al-Wadā‘ is neither obligatory nor sunnah, but merely recommended, and no compensation is required for omitting it, as compensation applies only to obligatory or sunnah acts.
[Al-Ifṣāḥ by Ibn Hubayrah: 1/276]
For menstruating or postnatal bleeding women, there is no obligation of Ṭawāf al-Wadā‘, but if they become pure before leaving the ḥaram, then they must perform it. If they still do not perform it—even due to an excuse—they must offer a sacrificial animal as compensation.
[Al-Iqnā‘ by al-Ḥajjāwī: 2/30]
References:
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Ḥajj, Bāb: Visiting on the Day of Sacrifice, Hadith: 1733
- Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ḥajj, Bāb: Obligation of Farewell Ṭawāf and Its Exemption for Menstruating Women, Hadith: 386
“The people were commanded that their last act should be at the House (Ka‘bah)—i.e., to perform Farewell Ṭawāf—except for menstruating women, who were exempted from this requirement.”
Explanation of Terms:
- Khuffifa: Indicates that a concession or exemption was granted. (Third person masculine, passive past tense, from the form tafhīl)
This narration reiterates the same ruling as the previous one: menstruating women are not obliged to perform the Farewell Ṭawāf, unlike others, for whom it remains a final obligatory ritual in Hajj.
References:
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Ḥajj, Bāb: Farewell Ṭawāf, Hadith: 1755
- Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ḥajj, Bāb: Obligation of Farewell Ṭawāf and Its Exemption for Menstruating Women, Hadith: 1328
