Is it permissible for a woman to enter the sanctuary of Madeenah when she is menstruating? What should she do if she is menstruating and she enters the city of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)?.


Praise be to Allaah.

Menstruating women are not forbidden to enter Makkah or
Madeenah. There is nothing in the texts to suggest that they are not allowed
to enter these cities. Rather the texts indicate the opposite. The women who
come for Hajj and ‘Umrah can be menstruating and the only thing that they
are not allowed to do is to circumambulate the Ka’bah. ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah
be pleased with her) was with the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) during the Farewell Pilgrimage and she got her menses
before she entered Makkah, but he (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) did not tell her not to enter the city until she became pure (her
period ended)! Rather he told her to do all the rituals of Hajj except for
Tawaaf around the Ka’bah, which she was to delay until she became pure. He
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do everything that
the pilgrims do, but do not circumambulate the House until you become pure.”
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 305; Muslim, 1211. 

Don’t the women who live in Madeenah also menstruate? Do they
go out of the city at that time? The point is that there is nothing wrong
with a menstruating women entering Makkah or Madeenah and staying there. It
is very clear and there is no need to look for evidence. 

With regard to a menstruating woman entering the mosque
(whether it is al-Masjid al-Haraam in Makkah, or the Mosque of the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in Madeenah, or any other
mosque, we have explained in the answer to question no.
33649 that it is not
permissible for a menstruating woman to enter the mosque. 

And Allaah knows best.