“Then let them put an end to their unkempt state, fulfill their vows, and circumambulate the Ancient House.”

Thus, the pilgrims circumambulate after being released from ihrām, having completed their Hajj, with nothing remaining forbidden to them except sexual relations. Hence, if one of them has intercourse in this state, his pilgrimage is not invalidated, by agreement of the imams. If circumambulation is an act of worship, then it is one restricted to the Sacred Mosque, just as devotional retreat is restricted to mosques generally. Allah Most High has commanded that His House be purified for those who circumambulate it, those who observe devotional retreat, and those who bow and prostrate. Circumambulation is not a form of prayer. If someone omits one of its obligatory elements, it may be said that he has omitted something from his rites, and whoever omits something from his rites must offer a sacrificial animal.

If, however, he omits an obligatory requirement concerning how circumambulation is performed because he is unable to fulfill it, this is a matter for juristic judgment: should he be treated like someone who has omitted part of his rites? Or should it be said that this ruling concerns someone who omits an independent rite, omits it despite being able to perform it and without an excuse, or omits something specific to Hajj and umrah?

As for saying that this woman, who is unable to circumambulate while menstruating, must return home still in ihrām, be treated as someone prevented from completing the pilgrimage, or be exempted from Hajj or from the obligatory circumambulation—all these views conflict with the fundamental principles of Islamic law. Moreover, I know of no imam who has explicitly stated any of them concerning this particular situation.

Rather, the statements of the early generations and the imams that she must offer a sacrificial animal, return home still in ihrām, or the like are general statements encompassing those who did this in their time. In their day, a woman could remain until she became pure and circumambulated. They used to instruct the leaders to wait until the menstruating women became pure