Reading and Touching the Quran during Menstruation

A woman cannot read the Quran when she is in her menstruation until she is pure, according to the majority of jurists.

According to certain scholars, reciting the Quran while on menstruation or when experiencing postpartum bleeding is acceptable. This is so that they are not prohibited from doing so by any unambiguous authentic hadith.

In regards to touching the Quran while menstruating, the proper position is that it is prohibited to do so when in any state of impurity.

 

Hadiths that Prohibit Menstrual Woman from Reciting the Quran

 

حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ عُقْبَةَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ "‏ لاَ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ الْجُنُبُ وَلاَ الْحَائِضُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

 

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'No one who is sexually impure and no woman who is menstruating should recite Qur'an.'"

 

Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah 595 Book 1, Hadith 329

 

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حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ سَلِمَةَ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ فَقَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ يَأْتِي الْخَلاَءَ فَيَقْضِي الْحَاجَةَ ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ فَيَأْكُلُ مَعَنَا الْخُبْزَ وَاللَّحْمَ وَيَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَلاَ يَحْجُبُهُ - وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ وَلاَ يَحْجُزُهُ - عَنِ الْقُرْآنِ شَىْءٌ إِلاَّ الْجَنَابَةُ ‏.‏

 

It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin Salamah said: "I entered upon 'Ali bin Abu Talib and he said: 'The Messenger of Allah used to go to the lavatory and relieve himself, then come out, and he would eat bread and meat with us and recite Qur'an, nothing stopped him' or perhaps he said: 'prevented him from doing so except sexual impurity.'"

[Reference: Sunan Ibn Majah 594 In-book reference: Book 1, Hadith 328]

Note: These two hadiths narrated above are regarded to be daif (that is, a weak hadith)

  

Scholars' Views on Reading the Quran during Menstruation

 

According to certain scholars, a woman who is menstruating is permitted to recite the Quran. Ibn Taymiyah and al-Shawkani agreed on Iman Malik's viewpoint, which was one recounted by Ahmad. On the basis of this belief, the scholars made the following claims:

 

Touching of the Quran during Menstruation Period

 

It is clearly stated in surah Waqiah, that it is forbidden for Muslims to touch the Quran unless they are purified.

 

إِنَّهُۥ لَقُرْءَانٌ كَرِيمٌ,

فِى كِتَـٰبٍ مَّكْنُونٍ,

لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْمُطَهَّرُونَ.

 

Indeed, it is a noble Qur'an

In a Register well-protected;

None touch it except the purified.

[Quran 58:77-79]

 

 

Allah Knows best.