Intermediate
Purification
Surah: Al-Baqarah (222)
Rulings of Menstruation — What is Permitted and What is Prohibited
وَيَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡمَحِيضِ قُلۡ هُوَ أَذًى فَٱعۡتَزِلُواْ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فِي ٱلۡمَحِيضِ
— البقرة الآية 222
Verse: "And they ask you about menstruation. Say: it is harm, so keep away from women during menstruation and do not approach them until they are pure." (2:222)
"Adha" (harm): A legal description indicating a temporary state requiring abstention from intercourse — does not make the menstruating woman's person impure.
Prohibitions during menstruation:
"Adha" (harm): A legal description indicating a temporary state requiring abstention from intercourse — does not make the menstruating woman's person impure.
Prohibitions during menstruation:
- Sexual intercourse: Prohibited — "keep away from women during menstruation" — one who approaches must seek forgiveness and expiate.
- Prayer: Prohibited — and no make-up required (unlike fasting).
- Fasting: Prohibited but must be made up — established by consensus.
- Tawaf: Prohibited — from the hadith "Tawaf around the House is prayer." (Nasa'i 2922)
- Divorce: Prohibited during menstruation — "divorce them for their waiting period" (65:1) — meaning in a purity period without intercourse.
Source: Al-Qurtubi (3/82); Al-Mughni (1/339); Al-Jassas (1/395); Nasa'i (2922)
Test Yourself
What are the five prohibitions during menstruation? What is permitted?
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