Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْمَحِيضِ ۖ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًى فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاءَ فِي الْمَحِيضِ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ ۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 222)
"They ask you about menstruation. Say, it is a harm, so keep away from women during menstruation. Do not approach them until they have purified themselves. When they have purified themselves thoroughly, then approach them as Allah has commanded you."
"There is consensus among the scholars that a woman is not lawful for her husband until she performs Ghusl with water or, if unable, performs Tayammum under its conditions — except for Abu Hanifah, who held a differing opinion."(Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 350)
This clarifies that the phrase (حتى يطهرن) refers to "the cessation of menstrual blood," and (فاذا تطهرن) refers to "performing Ghusl."
"When the menstrual blood stops, the husband should not approach her until she performs Ghusl. Once she has purified herself, then he may approach her as Allah has commanded."(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 9671, chain Hasan)
❀ The great Tabi‘i, Mujahid ibn Jabr (رحمه الله), stated:
"The husband should not approach her until she has performed Ghusl."(Sunan al-Darimi 117, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 1/96, chain Sahih)
❀ Imam Mak'hool (رحمه الله), declared:
"After purification from menstruation, a man should not engage in intercourse until the woman has performed Ghusl."(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 9671, chain Sahih)
❀ Imam ‘Ata ibn Abi Rabah (رحمه الله) was asked about this matter. He replied:
"No, not until she performs Ghusl."(Sunan al-Darimi 127, chain Sahih)
"According to our knowledge, there is no difference among the scholars in interpreting (فاذا تطهرن) as referring to performing Ghusl. The cessation of blood by itself does not constitute purification because, although it ends the menstrual period, it does not render permissible intercourse, prayer, or circumambulation of the Ka‘bah until Ghusl with water or, when unavailable, Tayammum is performed."(Ahkam al-Qur'an by al-Tahawi 1/137)
❀ Imam Ibn al-Mundhir (رحمه الله) (d. 318 AH) states:
"I hold the view shared by the majority of the scholars that a man must not engage in intercourse with his wife after her menstruation has ceased until she has purified herself with water."(Al-Awsat by Ibn al-Mundhir 2/25)
There is no known contrary report from any Companion or Tabi‘i.
Question
Is it permissible to have intercourse with a woman after her menstruation has ended but before she has performed Ghusl (ritual purification)?Answer
Allah, the Exalted, commands:وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْمَحِيضِ ۖ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًى فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاءَ فِي الْمَحِيضِ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ ۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ
(Surah Al-Baqarah: 222)
"They ask you about menstruation. Say, it is a harm, so keep away from women during menstruation. Do not approach them until they have purified themselves. When they have purified themselves thoroughly, then approach them as Allah has commanded you."
Explanation of the Ruling
❀ Hafiz Ibn Kathir (رحمه الله) writes in his Tafsir:"There is consensus among the scholars that a woman is not lawful for her husband until she performs Ghusl with water or, if unable, performs Tayammum under its conditions — except for Abu Hanifah, who held a differing opinion."(Tafsir Ibn Kathir: 350)
This clarifies that the phrase (حتى يطهرن) refers to "the cessation of menstrual blood," and (فاذا تطهرن) refers to "performing Ghusl."
Statements of the Predecessors
❀ The eminent Tabi‘i, ‘Ikrimah (رحمه الله), said:"When the menstrual blood stops, the husband should not approach her until she performs Ghusl. Once she has purified herself, then he may approach her as Allah has commanded."(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 9671, chain Hasan)
❀ The great Tabi‘i, Mujahid ibn Jabr (رحمه الله), stated:
"The husband should not approach her until she has performed Ghusl."(Sunan al-Darimi 117, Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 1/96, chain Sahih)
❀ Imam Mak'hool (رحمه الله), declared:
"After purification from menstruation, a man should not engage in intercourse until the woman has performed Ghusl."(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 9671, chain Sahih)
❀ Imam ‘Ata ibn Abi Rabah (رحمه الله) was asked about this matter. He replied:
"No, not until she performs Ghusl."(Sunan al-Darimi 127, chain Sahih)
Statements of the Scholars
❀ Imam al-Tahawi (رحمه الله) writes:"According to our knowledge, there is no difference among the scholars in interpreting (فاذا تطهرن) as referring to performing Ghusl. The cessation of blood by itself does not constitute purification because, although it ends the menstrual period, it does not render permissible intercourse, prayer, or circumambulation of the Ka‘bah until Ghusl with water or, when unavailable, Tayammum is performed."(Ahkam al-Qur'an by al-Tahawi 1/137)
❀ Imam Ibn al-Mundhir (رحمه الله) (d. 318 AH) states:
"I hold the view shared by the majority of the scholars that a man must not engage in intercourse with his wife after her menstruation has ceased until she has purified herself with water."(Al-Awsat by Ibn al-Mundhir 2/25)
Conclusion
Thus, based on the clear command of the Qur'an, the consensus of the scholars, and the authentic statements of the Salaf (predecessors), intercourse is not permissible after menstruation until the woman performs Ghusl.There is no known contrary report from any Companion or Tabi‘i.
