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Ruling on Intercourse Before Ghusl After Menstruation Ends

Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori

🕋 Qur’anic Command Regarding Menstruating Women



Allah the Exalted says:


فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاءَ فِي الْمَحِيضِ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّى يَطْهُرْنَ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللهُ

[Surah Al-Baqarah: 222]

"Keep away from women during menstruation, and do not approach them until they are purified. Then when they have purified themselves, approach them as Allah has commanded you."

❖ The Two Stages of Purification Mentioned in the Verse:​


This verse mentions two stages of purification for resuming intimacy with a menstruating woman:


حَتَّى يَطْهُرْنَ – Until they become pure (i.e., cessation of bleeding)
فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ – Then when they have purified themselves (i.e., ghusl)


There is consensus on the first phrase referring to the end of menstrual bleeding, but scholars differ on the second phrase – whether it refers to ritual bathing (ghusl) or simply the cessation of blood.


❖ Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
Interpreted "حَتَّى يَطْهُرْنَ" as "until the blood stops," and "فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ" as "until they purify themselves with water."
Taysīr al-ʿAlī al-Qadīr 1/181


❖ Ibn Kathīr (رحمه الله):
The scholars agreed that a woman does not become permissible for intimacy until the blood stops and she purifies herself with water or, under necessity, with tayammum.
Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr – Verified by ʿAbd al-Razzāq Mahdī 1/522


❖ The Majority (Jumhūr), including Imām Mālik (رحمه الله):
A husband may not engage in intercourse with his wife until she has performed ghusl with water.
Tafsīr Fatḥ al-Qadīr 1/226


❖ Mujāhid and ʿIkrimah (رحمهما الله):
They stated that the mere cessation of bleeding makes the woman lawful for her husband, but she should perform wudū’.
Same reference


❖ Imām Abū Ḥanīfah, Abū Yūsuf, Muḥammad (رحمهم الله):
If menstruation ends after ten days, then intercourse is permitted even before ghusl.
But if bleeding stops before ten days, then intercourse is not allowed until she performs ghusl or the time of prayer begins.


❖ Ibn Ḥazm (رحمه الله):
Intercourse is permissible even without ghusl.
Al-Muḥallā bil-Āthār 1/391


❖ Shaykh al-Albānī (رحمه الله):
Held the same opinion.
Ādāb al-Zifāf, p. 47


❖ Imām al-Qurṭubī (رحمه الله):
In the explanation of this verse, wrote that "فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ" means "they have purified themselves with water (i.e., ghusl)."
Tafsīr al-Qurṭubī 2/88


❖ Imām al-Shawkānī (رحمه الله):
Defined "تَطَهَّرْنَ" as ghusl and stated that intercourse before ghusl is prohibited.
Tafsīr Fatḥ al-Qadīr 1/226


The opinion of the majority (jumhūr) is the strongest, because the most accurate meaning of “تَطَهَّرْنَ” is ritual bathing (ghusl).
Moreover, in cases where both permissibility and prohibition are possible, the ruling of prohibition takes precedence.
 
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