Question:

Is it true that I cannot recite the Qurʾān during my menstruation days? How about touching the Qurʾān?

Answer:

Bismillahi Ta’ala

Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabrakatuh,

Allah Ta’ala says in regards to the Qurʾān

لَا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ 

None touches it (Qurʾān) unless they are completely
cleansed (i.e both physically and ritually) [Qurʾān 56:79]

In regards to the above āyah fuqahaʾ have mentioned that a ritually impure (one who is without wuḍuʾ), a Junub (one who needs a ghusl) as well as those in ḥayḍ (menstruation) and nifās (post natal bleeding) may not touch the Qur’an.

In regards to recitation, a hadīth has been narrated in Sunan ibn Mājah that Rasūlullāh ﷺ mentioned, “Neither a Junub nor a lady in ḥayḍ should recite anything from Qurʾān”. The narration has been mentioned in different books with slight change of words as well.

However, fuqahaʾ after having a lengthy discussion on the subject mention that although it is not permissible to recite a complete verse, it will be permissible to recite portions of the verse (a word or two words at a time).

Moreover, one can recite those passages which are recited as a supplication. For example, one may recite Surah al Fātiḥa with intention of duʿāʾ instead of Qirāʾah (recitation). Hence you may pick up of duʿāʾ books like Manajāt al-Maqbūl which compiles all such of duʿāʾs and recite it during your monthly days.

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,

Wassalamu `alaykum,

Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi

[1]

سنن الترمذي – مطبعة مصطفى البابي الحلبي  – 1/ 236

عن ابن عمر، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: لا تقرأ الجنب ولا الحائض

[2]

الدر المختار – دار الفكر – 1/ 172
(و) يحرم به (تلاوة القرآن) ولو دون آية على المختار (بقصده) فلو قصد الدعاء أو الثناء أو افتتاح أمر أو التعليم ولقن كلمة كلمة
حل في الأصح، حتى لو قصد بالفاتحة الثناء في الجنازة لم يكره