Q 1: Is it permissible for a menstruating woman to perform Tawaf (circumambulation around the Ka‘bah)? I do not want to just hear the answer, because I already know it, but I would like to know the evidence on this. May Allah guide you to what pleases Him.

A: Tawaf around Al-Bayt Al-`Atiq (the Ka`bah) is the same as Salah (Prayer), so it has the same conditions. The only difference between them is the permissibility of talking during Tawaf. Therefore, Taharah (ritual purification) is a condition for the validity of Tawaf. Accordingly, a menstruating woman cannot perform Tawaf until she becomes Tahir (pure – i.e., her period ends) and she takes Ghusl (ritual bath). It was authentically reported in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) that `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said, “We set out with the Prophet (peace be upon him) with the sole intention of performing Hajj, but when we reached Sarif (a place six miles from Makkah) I got my menses. The Prophet (peace be upon him) came to me while I was weeping. He said, ‘Why are you weeping?’ I said, ‘I wish, by Allah, that I had not performed Hajj this year.’ He asked, ‘May be that you got your menses?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘This is a thing which Allah has ordained for the daughters of Adam. So, do what the pilgrims but do not perform Tawaf (circumambulating the Ka‘bah) around Al-Bayt (the House: another name for the Ka`bah) until you are Tahir (ritually pure).’” In another narration by Muslim, (Part No. 11; Page No. 247)  “Do what the pilgrims do, but do not perform Tawaf around Al-Bayt, until you take Ghusl.” May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.