Continuation: What should a woman do if she still has to perform the tawaf al-ifadhah while menstruating, and her companions are traveling?

The Shaykh : However, the legislation of Allah does not impose on a person what he is unable to do; the Shari'ah is based on capability, and power belongs to Allah. We say that the legislation of Allah does not contradict His power, and the power of Allah does not contradict His legislation. For a woman in this situation, Allah has made it easy. We say she should protect the mosque from harm by taking precautions; she should use a tampon, meaning she places a barrier on her private parts that prevents blood from leaking into the mosque. Here, the potential harm to the mosque is removed. As for her, the condition present in her body that prevents her from performing tawaf is excused because she is in a state of necessity. Accordingly, we say, as the Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) stated in this issue, that she should use a tampon and perform the tawaf al-ifadhah even if she is menstruating. Now, if someone asks, "This is for a woman who cannot return to Makkah, but what about a woman who can return, for example, in the Kingdom, where she does not need a visa or excessive expenses?" We say that in this case, we give her a choice: if she wishes, she can remain in Makkah until she becomes pure and performs tawaf; if she wishes, she can leave with her group, and when she becomes pure, she returns to Makkah and performs the tawaf al-ifadhah. But when she returns, is it obligatory for her to enter the state of ihram and perform an 'Umrah because she passed the miqat intending to perform a ritual, or is it not obligatory?

The questioner : It is not obligatory for her; she is already in the state of ihram.

The Shaykh : No, she has already performed the first release (tahallul). This is not an 'Umrah; this is Hajj. Entering the state of ihram for an 'Umrah after the first release is permissible. So here, we say she should enter the state of ihram for an 'Umrah, perform tawaf, sa'y, and shorten her hair for the 'Umrah. Then, after that, she performs the tawaf al-ifadhah. If the tawaf is the tawaf of 'Umrah, she remains in her state of ihram because she has not released herself from the 'Umrah; she remains in her state of ihram. Or she returns with her group, and when she becomes pure, she returns. If she passes the miqat, does she enter the state of ihram from there? No, because she is already in the state of ihram.