Question:

I was on my way to perform ‘Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) and I passed by the Meeqaat (designated point for donning Ihraam) while I was menstruating, so I did not assume the state of Ihraam and remained in Makkah until I attained purity, then I assumed the state of Ihraam in Makkah. Is this permissible or what should I do?

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said: "What you did is impermissible as the one who wants to perform ‘Umrah should not pass the Meeqaat without assuming the state of Ihraam, even a menstruating woman, as she should assume the state of Ihraam while menstruating and her Ihraam is valid. The proof of this is that Asmaa’ bint ‘Umays, the wife of Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with them both, delivered a baby while the Prophet was at Thul-Hulayfah (a Meeqaat near Madeenah) to perform the Farewell Hajj, so she asked the Prophet what she should do. The Prophet said: “Perform Ghusl, wear a sanitary towel and assume the state of Ihraam.” Menstrual blood is the same as post-partum blood in terms of the ruling. Thus, if a woman who is menstruating passes by the Meeqaat while she wants to perform Hajj or ‘Umrah, she should perform Ghusl, then wear a sanitary towel and assume the state of Ihraam. When she arrives in Makkah, she should not perform Tawaaf until she attains purity. When ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, was menstruating during ‘Umrah, the Prophet said to her: “Do all that a pilgrim does, but do not perform Tawaaf until you attain purity.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] In Saheeh Al-Bukhari, ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that she performed Tawaaf and Sa‘y after attaining purity. This proves that a woman who is menstruating before or during performing ‘Umrah should not perform Tawaaf or Sa‘y until she attains purity. If a woman performs Tawaaf while being pure and then starts to menstruate after performing Tawaaf, she should perform Sa‘y even if she is menstruating, then cut some of her hair to end her Ihraam, as purity is not a condition for Sa‘y." Allah Knows best.