[Q 405] Performing Hajj in State of Nifaas

QUESTION:

If a woman is going for Hajj, however, unfortunately, she gets miscarriage. Can she perform her Fard Hajj with bleeding going over a month?
What exactly is she supposed to do in this situation?

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایة الحق والصواب

If at the time of wearing the Ihram (احرام – pilgrimage state), the woman is in a state of Nifaas (نفاس – postnatal bleeding), then she will wear the Ihram in that same state, and will perform all the rites and actions of Hajj except for Tawaaf-e-Ziyaarah (طواف زیارت – the essential circumambulation). She will perform Tawaaf-e-Ziyaarah after becoming pure.

Imam Tirmidhi عليه الرحمۃ narrates from Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله تعالى عنهما in a Marfoo’ (مرفوع – directly from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) narration that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said:

“إِنَّ النُّفَسَاءَ وَالْحَائِضَ تَغْتَسِلُ وَتُحْرِمُ وَتَقْضِي الْمَنَاسِكَ كُلَّهَا غَيْرَ أَنَّهَا لَا تَطُوفُ بِالْبَيْتِ حَتَّى تَطْهُرَ”

Translation: A woman in Nifaas (postnatal bleeding) or Haiz (حيض – menstruation) should take a bath and wear the Ihram, and perform all the rites of Hajj except that she should not perform Tawaaf of the House until she becomes pure.

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 945, vol. 3, p. 273, Printed in Egypt)

It is stated in al-Hidaayah (الھدایۃ):

“وَإِذَا حَاضَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ عِنْدَ الْإِحْرَامِ اغْتَسَلَتْ وَأَحْرَمَتْ وَصَنَعَتْ كَمَا يَصْنَعُهُ الْحَاجُّ غَيْرَ أَنَّهَا لَا تَطُوفُ بِالْبَيْتِ حَتَّى تَطْهُرَ”

Translation: If a woman starts menstruating at the time of wearing Ihram, she should take a bath, wear Ihram, and perform all the actions that a pilgrim performs, except for the Tawaaf of the Ka’bah, which she will do only after becoming pure.

(al-Hidaayah, Kitab al-Hajj, vol. 1, p. 156, Dar Ihyaa al-Turath al-Arabi, Beirut)

Answered by: Usman Madani (Ask Mufti scholar)
Translated answer
Date: 20th May 2025