The Saudi Arabian government has set a quota of 31,600 Malaysian Haj pilgrims in 2025 and they are expected to travel to Mecca and Medina in stages. — Bernama pic

In Islamic jurisprudence, the rulings concerning menstruating women performing Hajj or Umrah vary between the Hanafi and Shafi’i schools.IslamicTeachings.org+4Islam-QA+4Ahmed Amiruddin+4

Hanafi School

• Ihram: A menstruating woman is permitted to enter into the state of Ihram and perform all rites of Hajj or Umrah, except for Tawaf (circumambulation of the Kaaba), which requires a state of purity. Islam-QA+2Islam-QA+2Islamway+2
• Tawaf: Tawaf is not valid during menstruation. If a woman performs Tawaf believing her menses have ended, but bleeding resumes within ten days, the Tawaf is invalid and must be repeated after achieving purity. SeekersGuidance+1Ahmed Amiruddin+1
• Sa’i: Sa’i (walking between Safa and Marwah) is permissible only after a valid Tawaf. Therefore, it cannot be performed during menstruation unless Tawaf has already been completed in a state of purity. IslamWeb+4Islamway+4Ahmed Amiruddin+4
• Stipulating a Condition: If a woman fears that her menses may prevent her from completing the pilgrimage, she may stipulate a condition upon entering Ihram, stating: “O Allah, I will exit Ihram from the point where You have prevented me.” This allows her to exit Ihram without penalty if prevented from completing the rites. Islam-QA+2Islam-QA+2Islam-QA+2

Shafi’i School

• Ihram: Similar to the Hanafi view, a menstruating woman may enter into Ihram and perform all rites except for Tawaf. IslamWeb+4Islamway+4Islam-QA+4
• Tawaf: Tawaf is invalid during menstruation. A woman must wait until she becomes pure before performing Tawaf. SeekersGuidance+7IslamQA+7IslamicTeachings.org+7
• Sa’i: There is a difference of opinion within the Shafi’i school. Some scholars permit performing Sa’i before Tawaf, even during menstruation, based on certain Hadiths. However, the majority opinion requires Tawaf to precede Sa’i, necessitating purity before both rites. Islamway
• Stipulating a Condition: As in the Hanafi school, it is permissible for a woman to stipulate a condition upon entering Ihram if she fears her menses may prevent her from completing the pilgrimage. Islamway+5Islam-QA+5Islam-QA+5

Summary

• Entering Ihram: Permissible during menstruation in both schools.
• Tawaf: Not permissible during menstruation; must be performed after achieving purity.
• Sa’i: Permissible after Tawaf in a state of purity; some Shafi’i scholars allow it before Tawaf during menstruation.
• Stipulating a Condition: Recommended if there’s a risk of menses interfering with the pilgrimage.Islam-QA+4Islam-QA+4IslamicTeachings.org+4

It’s advisable for women to consult knowledgeable scholars or authorities within their respective schools of thought when planning for Hajj or Umrah, especially concerning menstruation-related issues.Islam-QA

A. It is permissible for women who is in menses to assume ihram for hajj. In this state she will do all the rituals (of hajj) except the Tawaaf.

In a case where a women is in Makka and she wants to perform Umrah, then she will have to go to Taneem to re-assume ihram.

Both the above acts are evident from the traditions recorded by Imam Bukhari in which it is stated that the Prophet (S.A.S) said to Aisha (R.A) (who was in her menses at the time of Hajj), ‘go into ihram for hajj. Do what the other pilgrims do, except that you must not make Tawaaf of the house (Kaaba)’. At the end of hajj rituals, when Aisha (R.A) wanted to perform Umrah which she could not perform before hajj (due to the state of menses), the Prophet (S.A.S) called her brother Abdur Rahman and told him to take Aisha (R.A) to Tan’eem where she would go into ihram for Umrah, and then he must bring her to perform Umrah. (Bukhari). It must be noted that a woman will not be able to perform Umrah while being in the state of menses.

If a woman could not perform Tawaful Ifadaah on its time (due to being in the state of menses) then the established teaching (from the hadith) is that she must wait in Makka until she becomes pure and then makes the Tawaful Ifadaah. If she does this, then she will not be required to give a big sacrifice.

It is important for a woman to understand that making Tawaful Ifadaah is a part of Hajj and without it, the hajj is not complete. It is for this reason, the law regarding the woman who has not performed this Tawaaf (due to her menses) stipulates that she must wait until she becomes pure and then perform the tawaaf before leaving. If her menses continue for a period which makes it difficult for her to remain in makka, then she can travel and then return after some time to perform the Farz Tawaaf (Tawaful Ifadaah). In this situation, she will not be able to have sexual relations with her husband, and if unmarried, she will not be able to marry until she performs this Tawaaf (since she is still in a state of ihram having started her hajj).

In light of the problem many women face today, where they are coming with groups from distant lands and tickets etc. are already booked to return, and they are unable to wait alone or return to makka again due to the difficulties involved, the scholars have given an allowance for a women to do the following:

1) She must make every effort to wait in makka in order to perform the Tawaful Ifaadah (if she is in her menses). In this regard, leaders of hajj groups should not book their ticket to leave immediately after the five days of hajj. They should delay their return by a few days to cater for sisters who may be in this state.

2) Upon becoming pure, the women must make the Tawaaf at her earliest opportunity (while at makka). She should not delay in doing this.

3) If waiting in makka (or madina) until one becomes pure is extremely difficult due to the flight arrangements, and it is also difficult to return to makka at another time to perform the Tawaful Ifadaah (seeing that it is costly and one may live in a distant land), then a women, as a first option, may use medication in order to restrain the bleeding at that time, and perform the Tawaaf (due to necessity). If this is not possible, then she should wait until the last day arrives for her to be in makka (in accordance to her groups traveling schedule) and if the menses do not stop until this time , then she should take a bath and quickly go to the ‘Mataaf’ (place of Tawaaf) and make the Tawaful Ifadaah along with the Sa’ee as fast as possible. In this case, she will also give a big sacrifice. Doing the Tawaaf in this state of menses will be sinful, however, it will suffice for the Farz Tawaaf due to a woman’s difficult situation.

This allowance has been given by the scholars due to the difficult situation which a woman may face while completing the hajj. It is the position adopted by the Ahnaf (Hanafi) jurists and has been practiced by many scholars. (Al Fiqhul Islam Wa Adilatihi Vol. 3 Pg 2222).

If a women performed Tawaful Ifadaah and afterwards got her menses during the time she was required to do Tawaful Wida, then she can leave whithout doing this Tawaaf.

And Allah Knows best.

Mufti Waseem Khan

Menstruating women should make standard Haj intention, not conditional, says Perlis deputy mufti

MECCA, June 1 — Female pilgrims who are menstruating do not need to make a conditional intention (niat ihram) when beginning their Haj rituals. Instead, they should make the standard intention for Haj to ensure their worship remains valid according to Islamic law.

Perlis deputy mufti and Haj advisory chief, Tajul Urus Abdul Halim, said making a conditional intention is not encouraged, as it may affect the validity or completeness of the Haj.

“Women are advised not to make a conditional intention because the Haj journey in the Holy Land spans several days, so it is best to avoid doing so.

“If a woman makes a conditional intention, there is a risk her Haj may be considered invalid or incomplete if the condition attached to the intention is mistakenly believed to have been fulfilled.” he said.

Tajul Urus added that making the intention (niat) is one of the main pillars of Haj and must be done either when leaving the accommodation or at the miqat (the designated place for ihram), regardless of whether the woman is menstruating or not.

“If a woman does not make the intention for Haj, she cannot perform the pilgrimage. Therefore, she must make the intention first, even if she is menstruating, as menstruation does not invalidate the Haj intention,” he said.

He explained that menstruating women may still perform all the essential and obligatory rituals – such as standing (wukuf) in Arafah, spending the night (mabit) in Muzdalifah and Mina, and performing the stoning of the jamrah, except for the tawaf, which must be postponed until they are in a state of purity.

Tajul Urus also clarified that pilgrims performing Haj and offering a sacrificial animal (qurban) are not bound by the recommended etiquettes followed by those performing qurban alone.

“They are not required to avoid actions such as cutting nails or removing hair, as these etiquettes are only encouraged for those offering a sacrifice but not performing Haj,” he said.

He further advised pilgrims to make proper preparations before starting their journey, including trimming nails and attending to personal grooming, to ensure comfort throughout the Haj. — Bernama