Answered by Muftī Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
What is a woman to do if she gets her menses while about to leave for Makkah to perform ‘Umrah, as per her scheduled bookings and arrangements for travel?
Answer:
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathabah and posing the question. Please see some options as per the details below.
Get Into Iḥrām and Wait
A woman who experiences her menses before entering the city of Makkah should get into her iḥrām before crossing the mīqāt (sacred pilgrimage boundary) and then remain in iḥrām until her menses are over, even if that means to extend her stay in Makkah. Once the menses are over, complete the rituals of ‘Umrah (ṭawāf, sa’īe and haircut). By following these steps, the ‘Umrah will be complete. – (See: Ghunyat Al-Nāsik, Page 155, Dār Al-Kutub Al-‘Ilmiyyah[1])
Enter without Iḥrām. When Menses are Over Go to Mīqāt and Complete ‘Umrah
If the menstruating woman enters the mīqāt boundary without iḥrām, she can wait for the completion of her menses. Thereafter, proceed to a mīqāt boundary, get into the iḥrām state and thereafter perform her ‘Umrah, otherwise, if she does not do this, a sacrificial animal and a qaḍā ‘Umrah is mandated upon her. – (See: Ghunyat Al-Nāsik, Page 366, Dār Al-Kutub Al-‘Ilmiyyah [2])
Stay Outside the Mīqāt . No ‘Umrah Obligated.
Another option is that without crossing the mīqāt boundary, and with no intent of ‘Umrah or iḥrām, if she can opt to stay in Madīnah or another city, there would be nothing obligated upon her.
Perform ‘Umrah with Menses as a Last Resort
Some jurists have also stated that if she fears that she will remain in menses during her stay in Makkah after being in the state of iḥrām, and it will be time to leave as per travel bookings, she can complete her ‘Umrah in this compelling situation, despite being in menses. In this case she will be obligated to arrange for an animal slaughter in the boundaries of Makkah. – (Al-Baḥr Al-Rāiq, Vol 3, Page 23, Dār Al-Kitāb Al-Islāmīy[3], Rad Al-Muḥtār, Vol 2, Page 551, Dār Al-Fikr[4], Hajj Ke Masāil Kā Encyclopedia, Vol 2, Page 248)
Follow Shafi’īe View. Enter Makkah, No ‘Umrah Required
If none of the above scenarios are possible, the Shāfī’e school’s position can be followed which allows a foreigner to enter the sacred miqāt boundary with no obligation of ‘Umrah if one has no intention to perform ‘Umrah before entering Makkah. Despite this position, the cautious view would entail a sacrificial animal and a mandated outstanding ‘Umrah. – (See: Sharḥ Al-Nawawī Vol 8, Page 258[5], Al-Mawsū’ah Al-Fiqhiyyah, Vol 2, Page 147, Wazārat Al-Awqāf [6], Darul Iftā Dārul Ulūm Karachi, Pakistan)
Allāh’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) had fixed Dhul Ḥulayfah as the mīqāt for the people of Madīnah, Al-Juḥfa for the people of Shām; and Qarn Al-Manāzil for the people of Najd; and Yalamlam for the people of Yemen. These (above mentioned) are the mawāqīt boundaries for all those living at those places, and besides them for those who come through those places with the intention of performing Ḥajj and ‘Umrah, and whoever lives within these places should assume iḥrām from their dwelling place, and similarly the people of Makkah can assume iḥrām from Makkah. – (Bukhārī 1526[7])
And Allāh Knows Best
[1] وحيضها لا يمنع نسكا إلا الطواف فهو حرام من وجهين دخولها المسجد وترك الواجب الطهارة فلو حاضت قبل الإحرام اغتسلت وأحرمت وشهدت جميع المناسك إلا الطواف والسعي لأنه لا يصح بدون الطواف ولا يلزمها دم لترك الصدور تأخير الزيارة عن وقته لعذر الحيض والنفاس – غنية الناسك في بغية المناسك ص ١٥٥ دار الكتب العلمية
[2] فإن رَفضها فعليه دم لرفضها وقضاءها لصحة الشروع فيها – غنية الناسك في بغية المناسك ص ٣٦٦ دار الكتب العلمية
[3] قَوْلُهُ أَوْ طَافَ لِعُمْرَتِهِ وَسَعَى مُحْدِثًا وَلَمْ يُعِدْ أَيْ تَجِبُ شَاةٌ لِتَرْكِهِ الْوَاجِبَ وَهُوَ الطَّهَارَةُ قَيَّدَ بِقَوْلِهِ وَلَمْ يُعِدْ لِأَنَّهُ لَوْ أَعَادَ الطَّوَافَ طَاهِرًا فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَلْزَمُهُ شَيْءٌ لِارْتِفَاعِ النُّقْصَانِ بِالْإِعَادَةِ – الكتاب البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق ج٣/ ص ٢٣ دار الكتاب الإسلامي
[4] وَلَوْ طَافَ لِلْعُمْرَةِ كُلَّهُ أَوْ أَكْثَرَهُ أَوْ أَقَلَّهُ وَلَوْ شَوْطًا جُنُبًا أَوْ حَائِضًا أَوْ نُفَسَاءَ أَوْ مُحْدِثًا فَعَلَيْهِ شَاةٌ لَا فَرْقَ فِيهِ بَيْنَ الْكَثِيرِ وَالْقَلِيلِ وَالْجُنُبِ وَالْمُحْدِثِ لِأَنَّهُ لَا مَدْخَلَ فِي طَوَافِ الْعُمْرَةِ لِلْبَدَنَةِ وَلَا لِلصَّدَقَةِ – كتاب حاشية ابن عابدين رد المحتار ج ٢/ ص ٥٥١ دار الفكر
[5] وأما من لا يريد حجا ولا عمرة فلا يلزمه الإحرام لدخول مكة على الصحيح من مذهبنا سواء دخل لحاجة تتكرر كحطاب وحشاش وصياد ونحوهم أو لا تتكرر كتجارة وزيارة ونحوهما – شرح النووي على مسلم ج ٨/ص ٢٥٨
[6] ذَهَبَ الْحَنَفِيَّةُ وَالْمَالِكِيَّةُ وَالْحَنَابِلَةُ إِلَى أَنَّهُ يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِ الإِْحْرَامُ لِدُخُول مَكَّةَ أَوِ الْحَرَمِ الْمُعَظَّمِ الْمُحِيطِ بِهَا وَعَلَيْهِ الْعُمْرَةُ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ مُحْرِمًا بِالْحَجِّ وَذَهَبَ الشَّافِعِيَّةُ إِلَى أَنَّهُ إِذَا قَصَدَ مَكَّةَ أَوْ مِنْطَقَةَ الْحَرَمِ لِحَاجَةٍ لاَ لِلنُّسُكِ جَازَ لَهُ أَلاَّ يُحْرِمَ – كتاب الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية ج ٢/ ص ١٤٧ وزارة الأوقاف والشئون الإسلامية الكويت
[7] عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضى الله عنهما قَالَ وَقَّتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لأَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ ذَا الْحُلَيْفَةِ، وَلأَهْلِ الشَّأْمِ الْجُحْفَةَ، وَلأَهْلِ نَجْدٍ قَرْنَ الْمَنَازِلِ، وَلأَهْلِ الْيَمَنِ يَلَمْلَمَ، فَهُنَّ لَهُنَّ وَلِمَنْ أَتَى عَلَيْهِنَّ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَهْلِهِنَّ، لِمَنْ كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ، فَمَنْ كَانَ دُونَهُنَّ فَمُهَلُّهُ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ، وَكَذَاكَ حَتَّى أَهْلُ مَكَّةَ يُهِلُّونَ مِنْهَا – رواه البخاري ١٥٢٦
