Fatwa ID: 03549

Answered by: Alimah Nasima Umm Hamza

Question

Assalamualaikum sisters! I have a question. Inshallah I will be going to umrah in two weeks and according to my menstruation cycle, I will have it during that time. Will my umrah be counted? Also, what are the steps to prepare for umrah?

JazakAllah!

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

It is not permitted for the menstruating woman to perform tawaf. If a woman goes for umrah while on her menses, then she is required to wait until her menses finishes to perform the tawaf. If she has to extend her stay in Makkah, then she should try her best to do so.

However, this is not always possible, especially when you go on umrah with an umrah group or others. In this case, if there was no other way, then the tawaf can be performed on menses and a sheep must be given as a damm (penalty). If she becomes pure before leaving Makkah, she should perform the tawaf again and no damm will be required of her. [1] [2] [3]

Preparing for umrah is composed of two aspects:

i) Knowing the method to perform the umrah and the fiqh related to it:-

there are many books of fiqh to read and handbooks which can be used for this purpose.

ii) Preparing yourself mentally and spiritually:-

Start increasing in your ibadah, make abundant dua and dhikr, and ensure that you are obeying Allah (swt) in all His commands and prohibitions.

Imam Al-Ghazali (rh) has written a book regarding the internal aspects of worship, which goes through the spiritual meaning of umrah/hajj, and this book comes highly recommended to read. It is titled the “Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship”.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Alimah Nasima Umm Hamza

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] Ibn Abideen, Manhal al-Waarideen, Hedaya Hartford Edition, Page 281, Footnote 1

[2] Al-Marginaani, Al-Hidayah, Volume 1, Page 161-162

[3] Ibn Abideen, Raddul Muhtaar, Volume 2, Page 551