Mu` meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah`s Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu Alaikum,

I received this e-mail, is there any truth in it?

Religious Duties & Menstruation according to the  Quran

I seek refuge in GOD, from Satan the rejected In the name of GOD, Most Gracious and Most Merciful

 

Salamun alaykum.

your question:

So do you mean to say that women CAN fast and pray during their periods?

 

Yes, absolutely. Nowhere in the Quran does it say that women cannot fast, pray, or worship in any other way during their menstruation. This
is an innovation. We have to know that any rule telling us NOT to worship God under this or the other circumstance must be from Satan, not from God. The verse they base this false idea about women not being able to pray or fast during menstruation is 2:222. They claim that it says that women are unclean during menstruation, and therefore cannot be allowed to pray.  Let us read this verse carefully, as God tells us to (4:82), to  determine if this is really what it says.

[2:222] They ask you about menstruation: say, "It is harmful;you

shall avoid sexual intercourse with the women during menstruation; do not  approach them until they are rid of it. Once they are rid of it, you

may  have intercourse with them in the manner designed by GOD. GOD loves the repenters, and He loves those who are clean."

The first part of this verse teaches us that it's harmful to have  sexual relations during menstruation. If you ask any doctor, Muslim or not,  about having intercourse during this period, he or she will tell you that  it's harmful for both the man and the woman.

Now let's look at the second part of this verse, which deals with  the period after "they are rid of it." Then we are told, the men may have  intercourse with the women "in the manner designed by God." Would God need  to tell us about "the manner designed by God," if there we no other manner   by which to have intercourse? No. There is another way, which is not  approved by God. This is why the verse ends by saying that God "loves those  who are clean."

If we haven't gotten the point by now, the next verse is quick to  remind us which manner is approved. It starts by saying, "Your women are  the bearers of your seed." There is only one way that a woman can bear the  mans seed.  The verse continues again to remind the men that they may enjoy  this privilege "as long as they maintain righteousness."

[2:223] Your women are the bearers of your seed. Thus, you may enjoy  this  privilege however you like, so long as you maintain righteousness.you shall observe GOD, and know that you will meet Him. Give good new to  the believers.        The only circumstances that makes us unclean in the eyes of God, when it comes to performing the prayers are mentioned in 5:6 and 4:43.In  none of  these verses does it say that menstruation is one of these circumstances. All we have to do to clean ourselves for Salat, is to perform the Wudu.

 

[5:6] O you who believe, when you observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), you shall: (1) wash your faces, (2) wash your arms to the

elbows,  (3) wipe your heads, and (4) wash your feet to the ankles. If you were  unclean due to sexual orgasm, you shall bathe. If you are ill, or

traveling, or had any digestive excretion (urinary, fecal, or gas), or had  (sexual) contact with  the women, and you cannot find water, you shall

observe the dry ablution  (Tayammum) by touching clean dry soil, then  rubbing your faces and hands. GOD does not wish to make the religion 

difficult for you; He wishes to cleanse you and to perfect His blessing upon you, that you may be appreciative.

 

We sincerely hope that this has shed some light on this issue for  you.

Peace

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Can woman fast and pray during menses period

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His  forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol,  no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The Question:  So do you mean to say that women CAN fast and pray during their periods? Yes, absolutely. Nowhere in the Quran does it say that women cannot fast, pray, or worship in any other way during their menstruation. This is an innovation. We have to know that any rule telling us NOT to worship God under this or the other circumstance must be from Satan, not from God. The verse they base this false idea about women not being able to pray or fast during menstruation is 2:222. They claim that it says that women are unclean during menstruation, and therefore cannot be allowed to  pray.

All the scholars of all the schools of thoughts in Islam are absolutely unanimous that it is not allowed for a woman to pray her prayers or fast during her menses period.    The brother who has argued that the woman are allowed to pray salaat,  and fast during menstruation is indeed erroneous in his deduction;  and should sincerely seek the forgiveness of Allah Subhanah.

 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 222:

222           They ask thee concerning women's courses.  Say: They are a hurt and a pollution; so keep away from women in their courses and do not approach them until they are clean.  But when they have purified themselves ye may approach them in any manner time or place ordained for you by Allah.  For Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean.

 

The answer of whether or not a woman can pray and fast during menstruation,  is in the above aayah of Surah Baqarah itself!   Allah has Himself commanded the believers not to approach the menstruating women ‘until they are clean’!   That clearly means that they are impure at the time of menstruation,  and since to be bodily pure (tahara) is a condition of salaat,   the salaat of the women in menstruation is not valid!   

 

Besides,  one must strive to find out how did the Messenger of Allah (saws) understand the above commandment of Allah Subhanah,  and what did he guide his wives,  and daughters,  and the believing woman to do during their menses.    It is not as if this period of menses is a new phenomena which happened to women after the death of the Messenger of Allah (saws)!!!!!

 

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said to Fatimah bint Abu Habish, "Do not pray during your period. After it has ended, perform ghusl and pray." (Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

 

If women fast during their menstruation,  their fasting will be considered null and void.  Even if they fast in the state of menstruation during the month of Ramadan, they will still have to make those days of fasting up later on. 

 

Mu'adhah said, "I asked 'Aishah, 'Why must we make up the fasts missed due to our menstruation, and not the prayers?'  She said, 'That was what the Messenger of Allah told us to do. We were ordered to make up the fasts, and we were ordered not to make up the prayers." (Related by Bukhari,  Muslim,  Ibn Maajah,  Sunan Abu Dawood,  Tirmidhi,  and others)

 

There is absolutely no difference of opinion amongst the scholars of Islam regarding the prayers and fasting of a menstruating woman cannot pray and fast during her menses;  and there is sufficient proof from the Quran and Sunnah to that effect.   

 

The brother who has argued to make it legal for a menstruating woman to pray and fast is obviously in error,  and must seek the forgiveness of Allah Subhanah for making a thing permissible after Allah and His Messenger (saws) have declared it impermissible.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan