Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
Can I read Qur’ān if I am on my periods?
Answer:
Thank you for your question.
It is generally agreed by mainstream classical and Islamic jurists that it is prohibited for women menstruating to recite the Qur’ān.
‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Omar reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said, “A menstruating women or a seminally defiled person should not recite any part of the Qur’ān”. (Tirmidhī and Bayhaqī)
It is also commonly agreed amongst the fuqahā that:
- It is permitted to hold du’a books that contain Qur’ān in them, in a state of menstruation.
- It is permitted to recite du’ās from the Qur’ān, with the intention of supplication, though not with the intention of reciting the Qur’ān.
- If the Qur’ān is in a casing, or wrapped in a cloth, or covered with a cloth jacket which is not stitched onto the Qur’ān, and which can be removed; then in such a case, the Qur’ān could be touched and could also be carried without purity.
- If a woman experiencing menstruation, is teaching the Qur’ān to girls, then in such a situation, it will be permissible for her to spell out the words. When she is teaching them to read, she should not recite the entire verse, but should read one or two words at a time and after every word or two, she should pause and break her breath.
It is reported form ‘Ali (peace and blessings upon him) and also Imam Abū Ḥanīfah (may Allāh’s mercy be upon him) that “an articulation is only considered a recitation if it is read in its entirety – a complete verse” (Majma’ al Zawāid)
“Whatever is articulated as less than a verse would not be considered as recitation of the Qur’ān”. (Fatḥ Al Qadīr, I’elā Al Sunan, Al Hidāyah)
“It is not prohibited upon a junubī (one who is in the state of major impurity) and hāidh (one who is in menses) to recite one or two words at a time of the Noble Qur’ān”. (Fath Al Qadīr).
Imam Tirmidhī (may Allāh be pleased with him) states that most people of knowledge from amongst the Companions, tabiūn and those who came after them, such as Sufyān Al Thawrī, ‘Abd Allāh bin Mubārak, Imam Shāfie’ī, Imam Aḥmad, and Ishāq have stated, “The woman in menses and the man in major impurities (janābah) is not to recite the Qur’ān except isolated words or parts of a verse etc.”. (I’elā Al Sunan)
And Allāh Knows Best
