Acts Prohibited During Menstruation and Their Proofs

Answered by Ustadha Shaista Maqbool

Question: Is there any hadith or verse from the Qur’an that mentions the 8 acts that are prohibited for a menstruating woman?

Answer: Wa’alaikum assalaam warahamtu Allah,

There is no one verse or hadith which comprises everything that is impermissible for menstruating women, rather these rulings are taken from numerous sources.

The following list the prohibited acts and their sources.

1 and 2 – Praying and fasting: Because it is not possible for a menstruating woman to be able to be in a state of wudu (which is a condition for both of these acts).

3- Reciting from the Quran with the intention of recitation (as opposed to intending dhikr or dua): From the hadith of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), “The menstruating woman and the junub [one in state of major impurity] shall not recite anything from the Quran.” (Tirmidhi)

4- Touching something which contains one entire verse: From the verse: “It is not touched except by the pure ones.” (Waqi’ah:9)

5- Entering the masjid: Because of the hadith of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), “I do not permit [entering] the masjid for the junub or menstruating woman.” (Bukhari)

6- Tawaaf: Tawaaf requires wudu like prayer because of the hadith: “Tawaaf around the Ka’abah is like prayer except you speak during [the tawaaf]…” (Tirmidhi)

7 and 8- Intercourse and seeking pleasure from that which is between the navel and knee: “Do not come close to them [menstruating women] until they purify themselves.” (Baqarah:222) and the hadith, “You have what is above the izaar.” (Tirmidhi) The latter hadith is an answer to a question on intimacy during menstruation; the izaar being a cloth which usually covered between the navel and knee.

(From Maraqi al-Falaah and Dhukr al-Muta’ahileen)

Wasalaam,

Shaista Maqbool

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani