Is it permissible for a woman to enter the state of ihram for 'Umrah or Hajj while she is menstruating?

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, is it permissible for a woman to go for Hajj and enter the state of ihram while she is menstruating, expecting that her purity will come soon?

Answer:
There is nothing wrong with it. Asma' bint Umayyas gave birth at the miqat of al-Hajf, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered her to enter the state of ihram while she was in post-natal bleeding. There is nothing wrong with it. Likewise, if she reaches the miqat while menstruating, she enters the state of ihram while menstruating; there is nothing wrong with it. Some people make a mistake and say that a menstruating woman does not enter the state of ihram, and they prevent her from 'Umrah, and sometimes from Hajj, out of ignorance. She enters the state of ihram, but she does not perform the rites until after purity.