Q 2: My wife has a question, and she wants to know the answer. May Allah reward you with the best! Before getting married, she set out with her paternal uncle to perform `Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) and to visit Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah. During her preparation for the journey, she had her first monthly period while still at home. She felt too shy to inform her family and her uncle (Part No. 10; Page No. 371) about her monthly period. Notwithstanding this, she went with them to Makkah and Al-Madinah, performed Tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka`bah), Sa`y (going between Safa and Marwah during Hajj and `Umrah), and offered prayer at home during her menstruation. She also visited Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah during her menstruation, but she still felt too shy to tell her family and her uncle about this.The question is: Is she considered sinful or not? And if she is sinful, what is the Kaffarah (expiation) for this sin? What should she do?May Allah grant you success and reward you with the best!

A: Your wife's Tawaf is considered invalid, as she had her menstruation. However, she was still considered a Muhrim (pilgrim in the ritual state for Hajj and `Umrah) at the time you got married to her. Accordingly, her `Umrah is considered invalid when you had sexual intercourse with her while she was still in the ritual state of Ihram for `Umrah. She should go to Makkah, wearing the clothes of Ihram (ritual state for Hajj or `Umrah), to complete her `Umrah, i.e., the invalid one. Then, after completing her 'Umrah and ceasing the state of Ihram, she should go to the very Miqat (site for entering the ritual state for Hajj or `Umrah) at which she previously intended to perform her first invalid `Umrah, and wear the clothes of Ihram for her second `Umrah, which is considered a compensation for her first invalid one. It is also obligatory on her to sacrifice an animal in Makkah that meets the specifications of Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims). It must be slaughtered and its meat be distributed among the poor of Makkah. This is to compensate for having sexual intercourse with her during her ritual state for `Umrah. But if you got married to her during her ritual state of `Umrah, you should renew the marriage contract after performing the rites of `Umrah.May Allah grant us success. May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his Companions!