A menstruating woman may perform Sa'i between Safa and Marwa because ritual purity is not a condition for the validity of Sa'i according to the majority of scholars. The Prophet told Aisha to do everything a pilgrim does except Tawaf, which means Sa'i is permitted. However, Sa'i must follow a valid Tawaf, so she should perform Sa'i after completing Tawaf once she is pure.
The majority of scholars agree that ritual purity (taharah) is not a condition for the validity of Sa'i between Safa and Marwa. This is because Sa'i is not performed inside the Masjid al-Haram itself, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) told Aisha to do everything that a pilgrim does except Tawaf around the Ka'bah. Since Sa'i was not excluded, it indicates that purity is not required for it.
Sheikh Ibn Baz confirmed that Sa'i is valid without wudu and without ghusl, stating that purity is recommended (mustahabb) but not required for Sa'i. However, he clarified an important practical point: since Sa'i must come after a valid Tawaf, and Tawaf requires purity, a menstruating woman should first wait until she is pure, perform ghusl, do her Tawaf, and then perform Sa'i. She cannot perform Sa'i before doing her Tawaf.
Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen added that in the case of Hajj, if a woman has already performed Tawaf al-Qudum before her menses began and has not yet done Sa'i, she may perform Sa'i even while menstruating, since it follows a valid Tawaf. The key distinction is that Sa'i itself does not require purity, but its prerequisite — Tawaf — does.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to me: 'Do everything that the pilgrim does, except do not perform Tawaf around the House until you are pure.'
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to me: 'Do everything that the pilgrim does, except do not perform Tawaf around the House until you are pure.'
I arrived in Makkah while I was menstruating, so I did not perform Tawaf around the House or between Safa and Marwa. I complained to the Messenger of Allah and he said: 'Do what the pilgrims do except that you do not perform Tawaf around the House until you are purified.'
I arrived in Makkah while I was menstruating, so I did not perform Tawaf around the House or between Safa and Marwa. I complained to the Messenger of Allah and he said: 'Do what the pilgrims do except that you do not perform Tawaf around the House until you are purified.'
Scholars from different schools of Islamic jurisprudence offer varying perspectives on this matter.
Purity is not a condition for Sa'i. A menstruating woman may perform Sa'i, but it must follow a valid Tawaf. Sa'i without prior Tawaf is not valid.
Al-Hidayah: Sa'i does not require the conditions of prayer, unlike Tawaf.
Purity is recommended but not required for Sa'i. A menstruating woman may perform Sa'i if she has already completed a valid Tawaf before her menses began.
Al-Mudawwanah: purity is mustahabb for Sa'i but not wajib.
Purity is not a condition for Sa'i. The Shafi'i school explicitly distinguishes between Tawaf (which requires purity) and Sa'i (which does not).
Al-Majmu' by al-Nawawi: Sa'i is valid without wudu or ghusl.
Purity is recommended but not a condition for Sa'i. A menstruating woman may perform Sa'i after a valid Tawaf.
Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah: purity is not among the conditions of Sa'i.
This is a scholarly summary, not a personal fatwa. Consult your scholar for personal rulings.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to me: 'Do everything that the pilgrim does, except do not perform Tawaf around the House until you are pure.'
Sahih al-Bukhari #305 (sahih)I arrived in Makkah while I was menstruating, so I did not perform Tawaf around the House or between Safa and Marwa. I complained to the Messenger of Allah and he said: 'Do what the pilgrims do except that you do not perform Tawaf around the House until you are purified.'
Sahih Muslim #1211 (sahih)