What is the ruling regarding a woman who performed Umrah and circumambulated the Kaaba while she was menstruating, out of shyness to inform her family?
This woman committed a grave error by prioritizing shyness from people over shyness from Allah, as she circumambulated while menstruating. The circumambulation of a menstruating woman is invalid and unsound according to the majority of scholars, due to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saying to Aisha: "Do what a pilgrim does, but do not circumambulate the House until you are pure." This means that the woman is still in her state of ihram and must refrain from what a pilgrim in ihram refrains from. Then she must go to Mecca to complete the circumambulation (tawaf) and the ritual running (sa'i) and exit ihram by shortening her hair, in accordance with His, the Almighty's, saying: "And complete the Hajj and 'Umrah for Allah." Scholars have agreed that embarking on Hajj and 'Umrah is binding. The Hanafis held that circumambulation without purity is valid, compensated by a sacrifice (dam), but they agreed with the majority that she is sinful for circumambulating while menstruating when she is capable of circumambulating in a state of purity.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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