A menstruating woman may perform sa'i between Safa and Marwa because ritual purity is not a condition for the validity of sa'i menurut jumhur ulama. Nabi told Aisha to do everything a jamaah haji 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 Masjidil Haram itself, and Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) told Aisha to do everything that a jamaah haji does except Tawaf around the Kabah. 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 wudhu and without mandi wajib, stating that purity is sunnah (mustahab) 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 mandi wajib, 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 Haji, 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.
Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said to me: 'Do everything that the jamaah haji does, except do not perform Tawaf around the House until you are pure.'
Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said to me: 'Do everything that the jamaah haji does, except do not perform Tawaf around the House until you are pure.'
I arrived in Mekkah 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 jamaah haji do except that you do not perform Tawaf around the House until you are purified.'
I arrived in Mekkah 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 jamaah haji 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 shalat, unlike Tawaf.
Purity is sunnah 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 mustahab 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 wudhu or mandi wajib.
Purity is sunnah 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.
Nabi (shallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said to me: 'Do everything that the jamaah haji does, except do not perform Tawaf around the House until you are pure.'
Sahih al-Bukhari #305 (sahih)I arrived in Mekkah 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 jamaah haji do except that you do not perform Tawaf around the House until you are purified.'
Sahih Muslim #1211 (sahih)