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The rule: whatever is said about men applies to women, unless a specific proof shows that her ruling differs.

Muhammad Alshareef, Women and Hajj

Ihram for women

GhuslSunnah for her as for men, even in menses or nifas

ClothesAny modest women's clothes: wide, thick, not tight, not transparent; any colour

JewelleryAllowed: 'A'ishah saw no harm in it

WashingAllowed; pour water and pass the hands through the hair

CombingGently is fine; hard combing that pulls out hair is disliked

Face and handsNo niqab, no gloves

"The woman in ihram does not cover her face (with a niqab) nor wear gloves."al-Bukhari 1838

'A'ishah said: "Riders would pass by us while we were with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in ihram. When they came level with us, we let our jilbab down from our heads over our faces, and when they passed, we uncovered them."Abu Dawud

Some Shafi'is required that the face cover not touch the face. Ibn Qudamah answered: this is not from Ahmad nor the hadith, and a cloth over the face rarely stays off the skin; had it been a condition, the Prophet ﷺ would have explained it.

Tying the head tightly for the whole Hajj and wiping over the scarf in wudu' instead of the hair is a hardship the Shari'ah does not require. Hair that falls out naturally while gently combing or scratching carries no blame.

The Talbiyah

Scholar	How loud
Ibn al-Mundhir (consensus)	Enough for her to hear herself
Ibn 'Uthaymeen	Enough for the one beside her to hear
al-Albani	Like men, if there is no fear of fitnah: 'A'ishah raised her voice until men heard her

What differs in Tawaf and Sa'y

Men

Idtiba': right shoulder uncovered
Raml: brisk walk in the first three circuits
Run between the green markers in Sa'y
Close to the Ka'bah
Shave (better) or shorten

Women

No idtiba': not allowed, without disagreement (an-Nawawi)
No raml: she walks, by consensus (Ibn al-Mundhir)
No running: she walks the whole way
Outer circles, away from men; nearer when it is empty
Only shorten, by consensus; a fingertip's length

She does not crowd men to kiss the Black Stone: she points to it like anyone who cannot reach it.
If she arrives by day, it is recommended to delay Tawaf to the night when it is less crowded. 'A'ishah waited until night, away from the men. But if she expects her period soon, she does Tawaf as early as she can.
She may leave Muzdalifah after half the night with the weak (ash-Shafi'i; Sawdah and Umm Habibah, al-Bukhari, Muslim).

Menstruation and the rites

'A'ishah got her period on arriving in Makkah. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Do what the pilgrim does, except do not make Tawaf of the House until you are pure."al-Bukhari

A woman in menses

Allowed: Ihram, Talbiyah, Sa'y (after Tawaf, or before it per Ibn Hajar), 'Arafah, Muzdalifah, stoning, du'a

Not allowed: Tawaf and prayer, until she is pure

Excused: Tawaf al-Wada'

Her period starts before Tawaf al-Ifadah

NormallyShe waits in Makkah until pure, then does Tawaf al-Ifadah; her mahram stays with her

If she truly cannot stayIbn Taymiyyah: she bathes, protects herself tightly, does Tawaf, and owes nothing

Told that Safiyyah had her period, the Prophet ﷺ said: "Is she going to hold us back?" Told that she had done Tawaf al-Ifadah, he said: "Then let us go."al-Bukhari, Muslim

Purity for Tawaf is obligatory, but obligations depend on ability: "Fear Allah as much as you are able." A woman with istihadah prays despite bleeding, so Tawaf under dire necessity is even more deserving of this. She did not leave the obligation by choice, so she owes no penalty. This is only for genuine necessity.

Key points

Her normal modest clothes and jewellery; no niqab or gloves; cover the face with her jilbab when men pass.
No idtiba', no raml, no running in Sa'y; outer circles; point to the Black Stone.
In menses: everything except Tawaf and prayer; Sa'y is allowed.
Tawaf al-Ifadah: wait until pure; under dire necessity, Ibn Taymiyyah's fatwa.
Tawaf al-Wada' is lifted for her.

Video Lesson

Women and Hajj