Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amini Puri
Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) states:
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) would recline on my lap and recite the Quran, even when I was menstruating."
(Sahih Bukhari: 297, Sahih Muslim: 301)
Under this Hadith, Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) quotes Hafiz Ibn Daqeeq al-Eid (may Allah have mercy on him):
"This indicates that a menstruating woman cannot recite the Quran, because if it were permissible for her to recite the Quran herself, there would be no need to clarify that it is permissible for the Prophet to recite while resting on her lap. This would be self-evident. There is no established permission for menstruating women to recite the Quran from any Companion or Tabi'i, rather the contrary is proven."
(Fath al-Bari: 1/402)
That is, if it were permissible for a menstruating woman to recite the Quran, there would be no need to state that it is permissible to recite the Quran while resting on her lap, as it would be more clearly established. There is no evidence from any Companion or Tabi'i that permits the recitation of the Quran for a menstruating woman; in fact, evidence suggests otherwise.
Abu Wail Shaqiq bin Salama, a Tabi'i, says:
"Neither a Junubi (one in a state of major ritual impurity) nor a menstruating woman can recite the Quran."
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/102, and its chain is authentic)
Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates:
"He did not consider it wrong for a Junubi or a menstruating woman to recite one or two verses."
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/102, and its chain is authentic)
Abu Ishaq Amr bin Abdullah al-Sabi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
"I asked Sa'id bin Jubayr, a Tabi'i, whether a Junubi and a menstruating woman can recite the Quran. He replied, they can recite one or two verses."
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/102, and its chain is authentic)
Imam Abu Alia says:
"A menstruating woman should not recite the Quran."
(Sunan al-Darimi: 1035, and its chain is authentic)
Imam Ata bin Abi Rabah (may Allah have mercy on him) states:
"A menstruating woman cannot recite the Quran, but she can recite a part of a verse as a supplication."
(Sunan al-Darimi: 1039, and its chain is authentic)
Imam Al-Awza'i (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
"When Imam Zuhri (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about men in a state of major ritual impurity and women during menstruation and postnatal bleeding, he replied that they are not permitted to recite any part of the Quran."
(Al-Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi: 1/309, and its chain is good)
These narrations prove that a menstruating woman cannot recite the Quran. However, she can recite one or two verses as supplication, but not as recitation, as evidenced by the fatwa of Imam Zuhri (may Allah have mercy on him).
This is also the opinion of Imam Ahmad and Imam Ishaq bin Rahwayh (may Allah have mercy on them). Furthermore, this discussion clarifies that the ruling for both a Junubi and a menstruating woman is the same.
Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) states:
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) would recline on my lap and recite the Quran, even when I was menstruating."
(Sahih Bukhari: 297, Sahih Muslim: 301)
Under this Hadith, Hafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) quotes Hafiz Ibn Daqeeq al-Eid (may Allah have mercy on him):
"This indicates that a menstruating woman cannot recite the Quran, because if it were permissible for her to recite the Quran herself, there would be no need to clarify that it is permissible for the Prophet to recite while resting on her lap. This would be self-evident. There is no established permission for menstruating women to recite the Quran from any Companion or Tabi'i, rather the contrary is proven."
(Fath al-Bari: 1/402)
That is, if it were permissible for a menstruating woman to recite the Quran, there would be no need to state that it is permissible to recite the Quran while resting on her lap, as it would be more clearly established. There is no evidence from any Companion or Tabi'i that permits the recitation of the Quran for a menstruating woman; in fact, evidence suggests otherwise.
Abu Wail Shaqiq bin Salama, a Tabi'i, says:
"Neither a Junubi (one in a state of major ritual impurity) nor a menstruating woman can recite the Quran."
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/102, and its chain is authentic)
Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates:
"He did not consider it wrong for a Junubi or a menstruating woman to recite one or two verses."
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/102, and its chain is authentic)
Abu Ishaq Amr bin Abdullah al-Sabi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
"I asked Sa'id bin Jubayr, a Tabi'i, whether a Junubi and a menstruating woman can recite the Quran. He replied, they can recite one or two verses."
(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 1/102, and its chain is authentic)
Imam Abu Alia says:
"A menstruating woman should not recite the Quran."
(Sunan al-Darimi: 1035, and its chain is authentic)
Imam Ata bin Abi Rabah (may Allah have mercy on him) states:
"A menstruating woman cannot recite the Quran, but she can recite a part of a verse as a supplication."
(Sunan al-Darimi: 1039, and its chain is authentic)
Imam Al-Awza'i (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
"When Imam Zuhri (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about men in a state of major ritual impurity and women during menstruation and postnatal bleeding, he replied that they are not permitted to recite any part of the Quran."
(Al-Sunan al-Kubra by Al-Bayhaqi: 1/309, and its chain is good)
These narrations prove that a menstruating woman cannot recite the Quran. However, she can recite one or two verses as supplication, but not as recitation, as evidenced by the fatwa of Imam Zuhri (may Allah have mercy on him).
This is also the opinion of Imam Ahmad and Imam Ishaq bin Rahwayh (may Allah have mercy on them). Furthermore, this discussion clarifies that the ruling for both a Junubi and a menstruating woman is the same.