Short answer
You do not pray, but the Hanafi scholars recommend that at each prayer time you make wudu, sit in your usual place of prayer and spend about the length of that prayer in dhikr, such as SubhanAllah and La ilaha illallah. This keeps the habit of worship alive. It is mustahabb, not required, and the wudu does not end the state of menstruation.
Mustahabb: at the time of each prayer a menstruating woman makes wudu and sits in her prayer place glorifying Allah for about the length of that prayer, so that she does not lose the habit of worship. She does not pray, recite the Quran or touch the mushaf.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
A week without salah leaves a gap in the day, and some women find it hard to restart afterwards. The Hanafi books answer this with a gentle practice: when the adhan comes, make wudu, sit where you normally pray, and spend a few minutes in remembrance. You are not praying, and the wudu does not make you pure from menstruation. It is a way of keeping your appointment with Allah.
What you can do in that time:
- SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu akbar and La ilaha illallah.
- Istighfar and salawat on the Prophet ﷺ.
- The adhkar after prayer and the morning and evening adhkar. See adhkar after salah.
- Dua in your own words.
- Listening to recitation.
This follows the wider rule that dhikr needs no ritual purity. Aishah said the Prophet ﷺ used to remember Allah in all his states. During Hajj he told her, when her period came, to do everything a pilgrim does except tawaf, which shows that a woman on her period is still in worship.
It is mustahabb, so there is no sin if you skip it, but many women find it keeps their prayer routine steady and makes the return to salah easy. See what is not allowed during your period and the dhikr list.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Ahzaab 33:35
إِنَّ ٱلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَٱلْمُسْلِمَٰتِ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَٰتِ وَٱلْقَٰنِتِينَ وَٱلْقَٰنِتَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰدِقِينَ وَٱلصَّٰدِقَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّٰبِرَٰتِ وَٱلْخَٰشِعِينَ وَٱلْخَٰشِعَٰتِ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ وَٱلْمُتَصَدِّقَٰتِ وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمِينَ وَٱلصَّٰٓئِمَٰتِ وَٱلْحَٰفِظِينَ فُرُوجَهُمْ وَٱلْحَٰفِظَٰتِ وَٱلذَّٰكِرِينَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا وَٱلذَّٰكِرَٰتِ أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةًۭ وَأَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا ﴿٣٥﴾
Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so - for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.
Remembering Allah often is praised for men and women alike.
Quran, Surah Ar-Ra'd 13:28
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ ﴿٢٨﴾
Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured."
Dhikr brings the heart peace.
Sahih Muslim 373
Sahih... كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يذكر الله على كل أحيانه ...
"Aishah said: the Prophet used to remember Allah in all his states."
Dhikr needs no state of purity.
Sahih al-Bukhari 305
Sahih... افعلي ما يفعل الحاج غير أن لا تطوفي بالبيت ...
"Do everything the pilgrim does, except do not go around the House."
A woman on her period keeps worshipping in every way still open to her.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Nur al-Idah with Maraqi al-Falah, Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on haid, nifas and istihadah. It is recommended for her to make wudu at each prayer time and sit in her prayer place making dhikr for the length of a prayer.
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on haid. The same recommendation, so that she keeps the habit of worship.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.