‘umrah and enter ihrām for Hajj. This shows that she cannot perform circumambulation.

The answer is:

Circumambulation during menstruation is prohibited out of respect for the sanctity of the mosque, for circumambulation itself, or for both. Prohibited acts become permissible only in cases of necessity. She has no compelling need to perform the farewell circumambulation, since it is not part of Hajj. Thus, someone residing in Mecca does not perform it; only someone departing from Mecca does so, making the House the last place they visit.

Likewise, she has no compelling need to perform the arrival circumambulation. Indeed, if a pilgrim arrives with little time remaining, he proceeds first to ‘Arafah without performing the arrival circumambulation. Thus, if the Prophet commanded those capable of performing these two circumambulations to do so, his command made both or one of them obligatory, or was a recommendation. Scholars hold differing views on this. According to the established Sunnah and the consensus of scholars, neither is an essential pillar required of every pilgrim.

The obligatory circumambulation is different: she has a compelling need to perform it, because Hajj is not valid without it. Similarly, she may enter the mosque out of necessity, but not for prayer or devotional retreat, even a retreat she has vowed to observe. Rather, if a woman menstruates during devotional retreat, she leaves the mosque and pitches a tent for herself in its forecourt.

This also indicates that prohibiting a menstruating woman from circumambulation is like prohibiting her from observing devotional retreat inside the mosque: it is out of respect for the mosque’s sanctity. Menstruation itself does not invalidate her retreat, for she has no choice in the matter. Rather, she is barred from the mosque, not from devotional retreat, since she has no compelling need to remain inside the mosque. If she were permitted to do so throughout her menstruation, this would amount to allowing women to remain in the mosque while menstruating. Circumambulation, however, can only be performed in the mosque