I am in the postpartum period and it will terminate on the seventh day of Thul-Hijjah. I have intended to perform Hajj and will travel on the fourth day of Thul-Hijjah. Although I have attained purity, I still have some brown vaginal discharge. I want to know how to perform Hajj and when should I assume Ihraam. Will my Hajj be valid although I am still in my postpartum period? Please advise.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

If she wants to make Hajj or ‘Umrah, a woman who has postpartum bleeding is required to have Ghusl (ritual bathe) when she wants to enter the state of Ihraam like others. Then she assumes Ihraam for Hajj and does the rites that are to be done just like anyone else.  However, she must not circumambulate the Ka‘bah until she gets pure. It is narrated in a long Hadeeth on the authority of Jaabir describing the Hajj of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, that when Asmaa’ bint ‘Umays had postpartum bleeding after she had given birth to Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, commanded her to have Ghusl and assume Ihraam. [Muslim] It is also narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, “Women who have postpartum bleeding and women who have menses must perform Ghusl, assume Ihraam, and do all the rites, but they must not circumambulate the  Ka‘bah.” [Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi] It is also narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to ‘Aa’ishah when her menses flowed: “Do what pilgrims do, but you must not circumambulate the House (the Ka'bah) until you become pure.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Consequently, you must assume Ihraam at the Miqaat if you want to perform Hajj. It is recommended for you to perform Ghusl when you want to enter Ihraam. Then, perform all the rites of Hajj except for circumambulation. When you become pure and after having Ghusl you can circumambulate the Ka‘bah. After that, you can perform Sa‘y because Sa‘y is invalid unless done after valid circumambulation. If you do that, then your Hajj is complete and acceptable, Allaah Willing.

Finally, please note that you become pure from the postpartum bleeding after you become clean or when you see white discharge. Yellow and brownish discharge that is associated with the postpartum bleeding is considered postpartum bleeding. Any vaginal discharge experienced after forty day from giving birth is considered Istihaadhah (vaginal bleeding that does not cause ritual impurity), not postpartum bleeding.

Allaah Knows best.