11th December 2024
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
Question: Can I physically touch and read Qur’anic ayahs (both English and Arabic) and English tafseer whilst on my periods? Can this be read even if I don’t physically touch the words? Kindly explain the ruling.
الجواب حامداً و مصلياً
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
In reference to your query, it is not permissible for a menstruating woman to physically touch or recite the Quranic verses.[1] The Messenger of Allāh sallallahu alayhi wasallam forbade a menstruating woman and a person in the state of Janabah (major ritual impurity) from reciting any portion of the Quran.[2] However, if she recites a portion of the Quran with the intention of Dua then it is permissible. These must be those selected verses that have the meaning of supplication and are only recited with the intention of Dua.[3] It is permissible for her to read the English translation of the Quran whilst menstruating but cannot touch any of the Arabic verses.
Regarding the tafseer books; Arabic or English, the jurists permit a menstruating woman to read and touch them, with the condition that the commentary content must exceed the verses. If the tafseer is made up of mainly Quranic ayahs with minimal commentary, then she cannot touch nor recite from this either.[4]
[Allāh Knows Best]
Written by: Apa Samrena Kashaf Reviewed by: Mufti Abdul Waheed
Attested by: Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Ibn Humam, Fathul Qadeer, Kitabul Haidh, Vol.1, page 167
(وَلَيْسَ لِلْحَائِضِ وَالْجُنُبِ وَالنُّفَسَاءِ قِرَاءَةُ الْقُرْآنِ) لِقَوْلِهِ ﵊ «لَا تَقْرَأُ الْحَائِضُ وَلَا الْجُنُبُ شَيْئًا مِنْ الْقُرْآنِ» وَهُوَ حُجَّةٌ عَلَى مَالِكٍ ﵀ فِي الْحَائِضِ، وَهُوَ بِإِطْلَاقِهِ يَتَنَاوَلُ مَا دُونَ الْآيَةِ(وَلَيْسَ لِلْحَائِضِ وَالْجُنُبِ وَالنُّفَسَاءِ قِرَاءَةُ الْقُرْآنِ) لِقَوْلِهِ ﵊ «لَا تَقْرَأُ الْحَائِضُ وَلَا الْجُنُبُ شَيْئًا مِنْ الْقُرْآنِ» وَهُوَ حُجَّةٌ عَلَى مَالِكٍ ﵀ فِي الْحَائِضِ، وَهُوَ بِإِطْلَاقِهِ يَتَنَاوَلُ مَا دُونَ الْآيَةِ
[2] Jami’ Tirmidhi, Kitabut Taharah, Vol.1, Hadeeth 131
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، وَالْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَرَفَةَ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، عَنْ مُوسَى بْنِ عُقْبَةَ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” لاَ تَقْرَإِ الْحَائِضُ وَلاَ الْجُنُبُ شَيْئًا مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ
[3] Ibn Abidin, Raddul Muhtar, Kitabul Haidh, Vol.1, page 293
(قَوْلُهُ وَقِرَاءَةُ قُرْآنٍ) أَيْ وَلَوْ دُونَ آيَةٍ مِنْ الْمَرْكَبَاتِ لَا الْمُفْرَدَاتِ؛ لِأَنَّهُ جُوِّزَ لِلْحَائِضِ الْمُعَلِّمَةِ تَعْلِيمُهُ كَلِمَةً كَلِمَةً كَمَا قَدَّمْنَاهُ وَكَالْقُرْآنِ التَّوْرَاةُ وَالْإِنْجِيلُ وَالزَّبُورُ كَمَا قَدَّمَهُ الْمُصَنِّفُ (قَوْلُهُ بِقَصْدِهِ) فَلَوْ قَرَأَتْ الْفَاتِحَةَ عَلَى وَجْهِ الدُّعَاءِ أَوْ شَيْئًا مِنْ الْآيَاتِ الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعْنَى الدُّعَاءِ وَلَمْ تُرِدْ الْقِرَاءَةَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ كَمَا قَدَّمْنَاهُ عَنْ الْعُيُونِ لِأَبِي اللَّيْثِ وَأَنَّ مَفْهُومَهُ أَنَّ مَا لَيْسَ فِيهِ مَعْنَى الدُّعَاءِ كَسُورَةِ أَبِي لَهَبٍ لَا يُؤَثِّرُ فِيهِ قَصْدُ غَيْرِ الْقُرْآنِيَّةِ (قَوْلُهُ وَمَسُّهُ) أَيْ الْقُرْآنِ وَلَوْ فِي لَوْحٍ أَوْ دِرْهَمٍ أَوْ حَائِطٍ، لَكِنْ لَا يُمْنَعُ إلَّا مِنْ مَسِّ الْمَكْتُوبِ، بِخِلَافِ الْمُصْحَفِ فَلَا يَجُوزُ مَسُّ الْجِلْدِ وَمَوْضِعِ الْبَيَاضِ مِنْهُ.
[4] Molana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, Kitabul Fatawa, Vol.2, Kitabul Haidh, page 102