Support IslamQA

Please contribute generously in order to ensure the continuity of our website InshaAllah.

Her period came before she did her ‘umrah

26-12-2006

Question 82012

My wife and I went to Makkah two days ago to perform Hajj, and in the airplane we intended to enter ihraam for ‘Umrah. When we reached Makkah, we went to the hotel to put our luggage there, and after that my wife found out that her period had come when we reached the hotel. 
What is the ruling on that? Does she have to offer a ransom (fidyah)? What is the value of the fidyah?.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Menses does not prevent a woman from entering ihraam for Hajj and ‘umrah, but it is haraam for her to circumambulate the Ka’bah until after her menses ends. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) when she got her menses before entering Makkah: “Do everything that the pilgrim does but do not circumambulate the House until you become pure (i.e., your menses ends). Agreed upon. 

It is proven in Saheeh al-Bukhaari that when she became pure, she circumambulated the Ka’bah and did saa’i between al-Safa and al-Marwah. This indicates that if a woman gets her menses before doing tawaaf, she should not do tawaaf and saa’i until she becomes pure. 

Based on this, what you wife must do is wait until she becomes pure, and then circumambulate the Ka’bah and do saa’i between al-Safa and al-Marwah, then cut her hair. Then she will have completed her ‘umrah. And she does not have to offer a ransom for having gotten her menses when she was in ihraam. 

See also the answer to question no. 40608

And Allaah knows best.

Menstruation and Post-Natal bleeding Hukm al-Hajj wa’l-‘Umrah (rulings on Hajj and ‘Umrah)
Show on Islam Q&A website.