Menstruation during Umrah

Question:

Assalamualaykum. A sister will leave for umrah on 11th feb however her menstruation is also due around same time. She will be travelling to Makkah first and then madinah and the whole journey is 10 days long only. The sister’s usual habit is 10 days also. What should she do if she starts before meeqat or even after, hasn’t yet done umrah and has not finished her menstruation even the day she is to return (so she’s entered in state of haiz and is leaving in state of haiz). What is the mas’alah regarding her situation? Answer: ﺑﺴﻢ اﷲ اﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ اﻟﺮﺣﯿﻢ In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Before a woman travels for Umrah, she should plan her trip in such a way that she could perform her Umrah in the state of purity. Another alternative, before the journey, is taking medication which will stop the menstruation. If she did not take these precautionary measures, and she intends to perform Umrah, then upon reaching the Meeqat she must assume the Ihram1, irrespective of whether her menstruation began before or after reaching the Meeqat because it is necessary2 for the aafaaqi3 (one who lives outside the boundaries of the Meeqat) to assume the ihram before crossing the Meeqat, however she will not pray the two rakats nafl. In the case where the menstruation commenced after passing the Meeqat, then whilst being in the state of purity, she should hasten to perform her tawaf before she menstruates because performing tawaf in the state of major/minor ritual impurity is prohibited. Furthermore, entering a masjid in the state of major ritual impurity (e.g. being in the state menstruation) is also prohibited. Any other actions of Umrah besides Salah and Tawaf (e.g. S’aee) may be performed in the state of menstruation .

If she does not have adequate time to perform the Tawaf due to her menstruation occurring immediately after crossing the Meeqat or it occurring before reaching the Meeqat, she should wait until her menstruation terminates, then perform the Umrah in the state of purity. Nevertheless, if she is certain that she will not become pure any time during the journey, even during the end of the journey, then she should try her best to delay her departure date, so that she may perform her Umrah in the state of purity.

However, if delaying one’s stay would be a financial burden and not feasible,

e.g. one’s mahram must return home due to work, etc., then it is allowed for her to perform the Umrah, during menstruation, due to the hardships she would undergo if she were to stay longer. However, she must give dam (i.e. sacrifice a goat or a sheep in the haram) because of her performing the Tawaf in the state of menstruation. [4]

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Mohammad Ahsan Osmani Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] Teacher of the Hajj Pilgrims: p. 130 (Darul Ishaat)

[2] Fatawa Mahmudia: v. 15, p. 394-395 (Darul Ishaat)

[3] Teacher of the Hajj Pilgrims: p. 74 (Darul Ishaat) [4] Fatawa Darul Uloom Zakariya: v. 3, p. 420 (Zamzam); Hajj wa Umrah Key Aham Masaail: p. 83-84 (Al-Karam Publishers)