Answer
Wa `alaykum as-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
Should you take pills to delay menstruation for Hajj?
- โ Not required for valid Hajj
- โ ๏ธ May cause health side effects
- โ All rites except tawaf can be done while menstruating
- โ Tawaf can be delayed until after menses
- โ Worship is still valid if pills are taken
Responding to your question on using pills to stop menses during hajj, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore states the following:
The Purpose and Wisdom Behind Menstruation
Menstruation is a natural process ordained by Allah, the Creator of human beings. Thus, there are certain wisdom, rationality, and benefits behind menstruation.
Among them is the production of progesterone and other female hormones essential for the well-being of a woman.
Hormonal Balance and Health Risks
Suppressing these hormones may lead to certain undesirable side effects such as increased weight. Islam discourages inflicting harm on oneself and others.
Thus, it is better to avoid taking contraceptives unless necessary; controlling menstrual cycle for the sake of Hajj and Umrah is not necessary.
Is It Necessary to Stop Menstruation for Umrah and Hajj?
Umrah is not wajib; if it is ordained by Allah that a woman bleeds during her Umrah, then she should accept it with an open heart. Allah knows what is best for His servants. And Allah knows what is in her heart. And, in shaโ Allah, she would be rewarded for her good intention.
As for Hajj, it is not necessary to suppress the menses. Even the Prophetโs wife Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), bled during her Hajj with the Prophet.
All activities of the Hajj, except tawaf, can be performed by a menstruating woman. And this tawaf can be done any time after the first tahallul (going out of ihram). Thus there is plenty of time for the woman to do her tawaf.
But if she has taken the pills to suppress her periods, her acts of worship are still valid.
Allah Almighty knows best.
Editorโs note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholarโs archive and was originally published at an earlier date.