Source: Ahkam wa Masail – Ghusl ka Bayan, vol. 1, p. 95
Question
Can a man in the state of major ritual impurity (junub) or a menstruating woman (ha’idh) hold or touch the Qur’an? Can they recite it?
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh. Ammā ba‘d:
Ruling
- A junub person and a menstruating woman may recite the Qur’an orally from memory.
- They cannot hold or touch the mushaf (physical copy of the Qur’an).
Hadith Evidence
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
«لَا يَمَسُّ الْقُرْآنَ إِلَّا طَاهِرٌ»
“None should touch the Qur’an except one who is pure.”
(Sunan al-Darimi 2/84, Bab: La talaq qabl an-nikah)
This hadith clearly states that only a person in a state of ritual purity may touch the Qur’an.
Qur’anic Evidence
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّرُوا﴾ (al-Ma’idah: 6)
“And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves.”
This verse shows that a junub person is not in a state of purity, which is why the command to purify first has been given. If they were already pure, this command would not be necessary.
Application to Menstruating Women
The same principle applies to menstruating women:
- They are in a state of ritual impurity and thus may not touch or hold the mushaf.
- However, they may recite the Qur’an verbally without physical contact.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
