‘MENSTRUATION NOT AN OBSTACLE’
TH religious guide explains how women can still complete haj
THE highest number of inquiries received by Tabung Haji (TH) religious guides are from women concerned about menstruation during the haj, a situation brought about by the increasingly younger age of pilgrims.
TH haj religious guide Yusnah Yusuf said women pilgrims often had an overwhelming fear that menstruating would adversely impact the performance of their haj, but on the contrary, she assured that it was nothing to be concerned about.
“The only thing women cannot do when menstruating during haj is to tawaf (circumambulate the Kaabah). Since one other ritual, saie, which involves walking between the Hills of Safa and Marwah must be carried out after tawaf, it will be affected as well.
“However, they can perform all other rituals, including wukuf in Arafah, stay overnight in Muzdalifah and carry out the stoning ritual in Mina.
“They can perform the tawaf, and saie after they have finished menstruating,” she explained to Malaysian media at the TH headquarters Abraj Al-Janadriyah.
She said if women pilgrims were still menstruating and could not perform their tawaf and saie on time before their scheduled flight back to Malaysia, there were other ways to complete their haj.
She added that this was discussed in detail in the religious modules that pilgrims had attended before haj.
These may involve deferring their flight home, returning to do the tawaf at a later time, or following the practice of other mazhab (schools of thought), which involves performing the tawaf while still menstruating but paying dam (atonement in this case through the sacrifice of a camel).
“There are ways to complete the haj. Women pilgrims have no reason to feel anxious about their menstruation.”
On taking pills to suppress periods, Yusnah said it was permissible, but might not be entirely effective.
“Women must ask themselves why they need those pills. If it’s to ensure they won’t menstruate during wukuf or other rituals, then it is not necessary because these can be performed by a woman who is menstruating.”
The problem, she said, was lack of knowledge and this was the reason behind the anxiety and frustrations felt by women pilgrims.
“The most important thing is knowledge and confidence in Allah. Men can play a role too in helping create this awareness among their wives and daughters. For example, they should get them books on this subject.”
She said, however, that all cases involving menstruation would be resolved by religious guides on a case-by-case basis as patterns and duration differed from person to person.