Since a week, I am experiencing doubts about the ‘Umrah that I performed eight years ago. I entered into the state of ihram (ritual consecration) but experienced menstrual bleeding in Makkah. I cannot recall whether this was on the same day that I performed ‘Umrah or few days later. I feel that those are merely devilish whisperings. What should I do?

All perfect praise be to Allah, 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 the situation is as you have described in the question, then your ‘Umrah was valid, and those devilish whisperings that you are experiencing do not affect the validity of your ‘Umrah as long as they do not reach the level of certainty. Therefore, Muslim jurists held that when a worshipper finishes performing an act of worship and then experiences doubts about its validity, he should discard such doubts completely. This is because the basic principle is that when the person performs an act of worship and finishes it, it is considered valid. Moreover, when the person allows the devil access in this regard, he will exhaust him with bothersome whisperings and thoughts. It may even drive him to question his beliefs. Hence, you should disregard such whisperings, and your ‘Umrah is valid, Allah willing.

Allah Knows best.