What is the ruling for a woman who still has to perform the farewell circumambulation while she is menstruating and her companions are traveling? How should she proceed?

The questioner : If a menstruating woman has to perform the farewell circumambulation and the circumambulation of departure, and she is menstruating...?

The Shaykh : What? What is it?

The questioner : If a menstruating woman has to perform the farewell circumambulation and the circumambulation of departure?

The Shaykh : Your phrasing is not correct. Correct the phrasing.

The questioner : If the woman is menstruating and her companions want to leave, and she still has to perform the circumambulation of departure...

The Shaykh : And the farewell circumambulation?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : The phrasing is not correct. What are you saying? It is not correct because saying "and she has to perform the farewell circumambulation" is incorrect. A menstruating woman does not have to perform the farewell circumambulation. But say: if she fears missing her companions and has not performed the circumambulation of departure, this issue occurred during the time of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). When it was said to him that Safiyyah bint Huyayy was menstruating, he said: He said that in surprise or denial. The important thing is that he said, "Is she staying behind with us?" They said, "She has already performed the circumambulation of departure," meaning she performed the circumambulation of departure. He said, "Depart," meaning she is not staying behind with us now. This is because the farewell circumambulation is not obligatory for a menstruating woman. However, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) would have stayed until the woman became pure. But if the woman is with a group that will not care about her and will not wait for her, what should she do? Some scholars say she should go with them if it is not possible for her mahram to stay behind with her. She goes with them and remains in her state of ihram forever until she is able to reach the House and come and perform the circumambulation of departure. If she is married, her husband does not have relations with her. If she is unmarried, she does not get married. Until when? Until she is able to reach the House and come. She is a woman, for example, from India or Sindh, who cannot do this. This is the divine decree and destiny of Allah. But the divine decree and destiny of Allah may bring upon a person what he cannot handle. However, the Shari'ah of Allah does not bring upon a person what he cannot handle. The Shari'ah is based on capability, and destiny is with Allah. So we say: the Shari'ah of Allah does not contradict His destiny, and the destiny of Allah does not contradict His Shari'ah. For such a woman, Allah has made an ease. We say she should protect the mosque from harm by taking precautions. She should wear a pad, 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 the circumambulation is excused for her, because in this state she is compelled to do so. And on this basis, we say, as the Shaykh al-Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) said in this issue, that she should wear a pad and perform the circumambulation of departure even if she is menstruating. Now, if someone says, "This is for a woman who cannot return to Makkah, but what about a woman who can return, for example, in the Kingdom? She does not need a visa or expensive expenses." We say: we give her a choice. If she wishes, she stays in Makkah until she becomes pure and performs the circumambulation. If she wishes, she leaves with her people, and when she becomes pure, she returns to Makkah and performs the circumambulation of departure. But if she returns, is she required to enter the state of ihram and perform an 'Umrah because she passed the miqat intending to perform a ritual, or is she not required?

The questioner : She is not required.

The Shaykh : No, she has already performed the first release from ihram. This is not an 'Umrah; this is Hajj. And entering the state of ihram for 'Umrah after the first release is permissible. So here we say: she enters the state of ihram for 'Umrah, performs the circumambulation, performs the sa'y, and shortens her hair for the 'Umrah. After that, she performs the circumambulation of departure. If the circumambulation is for 'Umrah, she remains in her state of ihram. She does not release herself from the 'Umrah. She remains in her state of ihram and returns with...