Q-  Can a woman perform Hajj if her bleeding ceases before the forty-day post-natal period?  And if her bleeding does not stop, what should she do if she has already made the intention for Hajj?  

A- If her post-natal bleeding stops before forty days, she should make a ghusl, do her formal prayers and perform all the rites of Hajj, including the tawaaf, because there is no minimum limit for the period of post-natal bleeding.

However, if the bleeding continues and she has already made her intention for Hajj, she should make a ghusl, wear a sanitary napkin and put on her ihraam.  The proof for this is the case of Asmaa bint Umays, wife of Aboo Bakr, who delivered a baby when the Prophet (saws) stopped at Thul-Hulayfah during his farewell Hajj.  She asked the Prophet (saws) what she should do, and he replied, “Make a ghusl, wrap a cloth around your privates and make your Ihraam.”  She should then do all of the rites of Hajj except for the tawaaf, which should only be done after her bleeding has stopped.   The Prophet (saws) prohibited menstruating women from making tawaaf.  He told ‘Aa’ishah,  “Do everything that one performing Hajj does, except circling the Ka’bah, until your menses stops”.  Post-natal bleeding is similar to menses; consequently the same ruling applies.

Q- How can a menstruating woman pray the necessary two units of formal prayer at the time of putting on the ihraam (garments of Hajj)?  

 A- Wearing Ihraam has no special formal prayer accompanying it, because it was not recorded that the Prophet (saws) instructed his followers to do this prayer, nor did he do it himself, nor did he approve of others doing it.