Eating Food from the Hand of a Menstruating Woman: Islamic Ruling Source:
This article is derived from the book 500 Questions & Answers for Women, a compilation of Fatawa by the Scholars of the Haramain. Translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to eat food prepared or served by a menstruating (ḥāʾiḍ) woman? Please clarify. May Allah reward you.
❖ Answer:
Yes, there is no harm or prohibition in eating food from the hand of a menstruating woman.
✔ Whether:
- She cooks the food herself,
- Serves it to you directly,
- Or simply passes it from someone else—all of it is permissible.
Evidence from Hadith:
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم addressed ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها during her menstrual period and said:
"إن حيضتك ليست بيدك"
“Indeed, your menstruation is not in your hand.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth No. 299]
This clearly means that menstruation does not affect the hands, and there is no impurity transferred through touching or handling food.Therefore, if a menstruating woman prepares or serves food with her hands, or even feeds someone directly by hand, there is absolutely no restriction or religious concern.
(Fatwa by: Shaykh ʿAbdullāh ibn Ḥumayd رحمه الله)❖ Summary:
✔ It is permissible to eat food:
- Prepared,
- Served,
- Or fed by hand by a menstruating woman.
✔ Menstruation does not render the hands impure.
✔ There is no harm or prohibition involved in such actions.
