There is no doubt that the Tawaf known as Al-Ifadah is one of the pillars and essential acts of the Hajj. If the menstruating woman did not perform it due to lack of time and the time was not such that she could wait for her menses to end, what is the ruling concerning that?

It is obligatory upon her and her guardian to wait until she becomes pure and then to perform the Tawaf Al-Ifadah.

This is based on the Prophet's (Peace and blessings be upon him) statement when he was told that Safiyyah had received her menses:

"Is she going to hold us up?"

When he was told that she had performed the Tawaf Al-Ifadah, he said:

"Then let's go."

If she is not able to wait but she has the ability to return to Mecca to perform the Tawaf, then she may travel and return after she becomes pure to perform the Tawaf.

If she does not have the ability to return or she fears that she would not be able to return, like those who live in far away places from Mecca, like the people of the West, Indonesia and so forth, then, according to the correct opinion, she may protect [her blood from dripping on to the floor] and perform the Tawaf with the intention of Hajj.

This is considered permissible by a number of scholars, including Sheikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah and his student ibn Al-Qayyim as well as other scholars.