The Legal Rulings on Menstruation: Issues, Differences, and Consensus
Authored by: Imran Ayub Lahori
Can a Pregnant Woman Menstruate?
Scholars have differed on this issue:
➊ Mālikī and Shāfiʿī View:
A pregnant woman can sometimes menstruate. They argue that the phrase “ayat al-maḥīḍ” (Qur’anic verse about menstruation) applies generally, and that menstruation is a natural occurrence in a woman’s body.
[Bidāyat al-Mujtahid 1/15; al-Sharḥ al-Ṣaghīr 1/211; Mughnī al-Muḥtāj 1/118]
➋ Ḥanafī and Ḥanbalī View:
A pregnant woman does not menstruate. Their proof is the ḥadīth in which the Prophet ﷺ answered ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) that divorce should be given either in a state of purity or pregnancy:
"ثُمَّ لِيُطَلِّقْهَا طَاهِرًا أَوْ حَامِلًا"
“…then he may divorce her either while she is pure or pregnant.”
[Bukhārī 7160; Muslim 1090; Abū Dāwūd 1/500; ʿĀriḍat al-Aḥwadhī 5/123; Dārimī 2/120; Muwaṭṭaʾ 2/576; Aḥmad 2/43-51]
This clearly distinguishes pregnancy from menstruation.
[al-Durr al-Mukhtār 1/263; al-Mughnī 1/361; Kashshāf al-Qināʿ 1/232]
Shaykh ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Nāṣir al-Saʿdī: He mentions an alternative view from Imām Aḥmad that sometimes pregnant women do menstruate, and he leans towards this.
[Fatāwā al-Saʿdiyyah, p. 134; Fatāwā al-Marʾah al-Muslimah 1/266]
Eating and Drinking with a Menstruating Woman
It is permissible to eat and drink with a menstruating woman, including sharing her leftover food, based on several proofs:
➊ Narration of Anas (رضي الله عنه):
The Jews avoided eating and socializing with menstruating women. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"وَاصْنَعُوا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا النِّكَاحَ"
“Do everything except sexual intercourse.”
[Muslim 302; Abū Dāwūd 258; Tirmidhī 2977; Nasāʾī 1/187; Ibn Mājah 644; Bayhaqī 1/313; Ibn Ḥibbān 1352; Aḥmad 3/132]
➋ Narration of ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها):
She said she would drink from a cup while menstruating, then pass it to the Prophet ﷺ, who would place his lips where hers had touched.
[Muslim 300; Abū Dāwūd 259; Nasāʾī 1/56; Aḥmad 6/62]
al-Ṭabarī: There is consensus on the permissibility of eating with a menstruating woman.
[Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī 2/397]
al-Tirmidhī: This is the common view of the scholars.
[Tirmidhī after ḥadīth 133]
Menstruating Woman in Ḥajj and ʿUmrah
The Prophet ﷺ said to ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها):
"فَافْعَلِي مَا يَفْعَلُ الْحَاجُّ غَيْرَ أَنْ لَا تَطُوفِي بِالْبَيْتِ حَتَّى تَطْهُرِي"
“Do everything the pilgrim does, except do not perform ṭawāf of the House until you become pure.”
[Bukhārī 305]
Combing the Husband’s Hair
ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated:
"لَوْ كُنْتُ أُرَجِّلُ رَأْسَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ"
“I would comb the hair of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while I was menstruating.”
[Bukhārī 295]
Recitation of Qur’an in Her Lap
ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) said:
"إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ يَتَّكِئُ فِي حِجْرِي وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ، ثُمَّ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ"
“The Prophet ﷺ would recline in my lap while I was menstruating and recite the Qur’an.”
[Bukhārī 297]
Washing Blood from Clothing
Because menstrual blood is impure, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"فَلْتَقْرُصْهُ ثُمَّ لِتَنْضَحْهُ بِمَاءٍ ثُمَّ لِتُصَلِّي فِيهِ"
“She should scrape it, then sprinkle water over it, then pray in it.”
[Bukhārī 307]
Sleeping with a Menstruating Wife
Umm Salamah (رضي الله عنها) narrated that she was menstruating while lying under the same blanket with the Prophet ﷺ.
[Bukhārī 322]
Eid Participation
Menstruating women should join in Eid gatherings, though they should avoid the prayer area.
[Bukhārī 324]
Entering the Mosque
The Prophet ﷺ told ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها):
"إِنَّ حَيْضَتَكِ لَيْسَتْ فِي يَدِكِ"
“Your menstruation is not in your hand.”
[Muslim 299]
Divorce During Menstruation is Prohibited
Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) gave divorce to his wife during her menstruation, and the Prophet ﷺ was angered and instructed him to wait until she became pure.
[Bukhārī 7160; Muslim 1095]
If Bleeding Occurs in Intervals
The correct view is that whenever a woman sees blood, she refrains from prayer, fasting, and intercourse, and once she attains purity, she performs ghusl and resumes normal worship.
[Fatāwā Ibn Bāz 1/55; Fatāwā al-Saʿdiyyah p. 135]
Intercourse with a Woman in Istihāḍah (Irregular Bleeding)
The majority agree with this.
[Nayl al-Awṭār 1/411]
Age at Which Menstruation Ends
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn: There is no fixed age—it ends when menstruation naturally ceases and does not return.
[Fatāwā al-Marʾah al-Muslimah 1/268]
This is the correct view.
[al-Majmūʿ 2/374]
Post-Childbirth Without Bleeding
If a woman does not bleed after childbirth, she must still perform ghusl and fulfill prayers and fasting.
[Fatāwā al-Lajnah 1/420]
Taking Medicine to Delay Menstruation
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn: It is not prohibited, but it may cause harm and disrupt the natural cycle.
[Majmūʿ Fatāwā Ibn ʿUthaymīn 4/283]
Making up Fasts but not Prayers
ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) explained that they were commanded to make up missed fasts but not missed prayers.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd 236; Bukhārī 321; Muslim 335; Tirmidhī 130]
There is unanimous agreement on this among the scholars.
[al-Majmūʿ 2/351-355; al-Sayl al-Jarrār 1/148; al-Ijmāʿ Ibn al-Mundhir p. 37]
al-Ṣiddīq Ḥasan Khān: Rejection of this by the Khārijites is of no consequence.
[al-Rawḍah al-Nadiyyah 1/190]
Authored by: Imran Ayub Lahori
Can a Pregnant Woman Menstruate?
Scholars have differed on this issue:
➊ Mālikī and Shāfiʿī View:
A pregnant woman can sometimes menstruate. They argue that the phrase “ayat al-maḥīḍ” (Qur’anic verse about menstruation) applies generally, and that menstruation is a natural occurrence in a woman’s body.
[Bidāyat al-Mujtahid 1/15; al-Sharḥ al-Ṣaghīr 1/211; Mughnī al-Muḥtāj 1/118]
➋ Ḥanafī and Ḥanbalī View:
A pregnant woman does not menstruate. Their proof is the ḥadīth in which the Prophet ﷺ answered ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه) that divorce should be given either in a state of purity or pregnancy:
"ثُمَّ لِيُطَلِّقْهَا طَاهِرًا أَوْ حَامِلًا"
“…then he may divorce her either while she is pure or pregnant.”
[Bukhārī 7160; Muslim 1090; Abū Dāwūd 1/500; ʿĀriḍat al-Aḥwadhī 5/123; Dārimī 2/120; Muwaṭṭaʾ 2/576; Aḥmad 2/43-51]
This clearly distinguishes pregnancy from menstruation.
[al-Durr al-Mukhtār 1/263; al-Mughnī 1/361; Kashshāf al-Qināʿ 1/232]
Shaykh ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Nāṣir al-Saʿdī: He mentions an alternative view from Imām Aḥmad that sometimes pregnant women do menstruate, and he leans towards this.
[Fatāwā al-Saʿdiyyah, p. 134; Fatāwā al-Marʾah al-Muslimah 1/266]
Eating and Drinking with a Menstruating Woman
It is permissible to eat and drink with a menstruating woman, including sharing her leftover food, based on several proofs:
➊ Narration of Anas (رضي الله عنه):
The Jews avoided eating and socializing with menstruating women. The Prophet ﷺ said:
"وَاصْنَعُوا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا النِّكَاحَ"
“Do everything except sexual intercourse.”
[Muslim 302; Abū Dāwūd 258; Tirmidhī 2977; Nasāʾī 1/187; Ibn Mājah 644; Bayhaqī 1/313; Ibn Ḥibbān 1352; Aḥmad 3/132]
➋ Narration of ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها):
She said she would drink from a cup while menstruating, then pass it to the Prophet ﷺ, who would place his lips where hers had touched.
[Muslim 300; Abū Dāwūd 259; Nasāʾī 1/56; Aḥmad 6/62]
al-Ṭabarī: There is consensus on the permissibility of eating with a menstruating woman.
[Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī 2/397]
al-Tirmidhī: This is the common view of the scholars.
[Tirmidhī after ḥadīth 133]
Menstruating Woman in Ḥajj and ʿUmrah
The Prophet ﷺ said to ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها):
"فَافْعَلِي مَا يَفْعَلُ الْحَاجُّ غَيْرَ أَنْ لَا تَطُوفِي بِالْبَيْتِ حَتَّى تَطْهُرِي"
“Do everything the pilgrim does, except do not perform ṭawāf of the House until you become pure.”
[Bukhārī 305]
Combing the Husband’s Hair
ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated:
"لَوْ كُنْتُ أُرَجِّلُ رَأْسَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ"
“I would comb the hair of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while I was menstruating.”
[Bukhārī 295]
Recitation of Qur’an in Her Lap
ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) said:
"إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ كَانَ يَتَّكِئُ فِي حِجْرِي وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ، ثُمَّ يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ"
“The Prophet ﷺ would recline in my lap while I was menstruating and recite the Qur’an.”
[Bukhārī 297]
Washing Blood from Clothing
Because menstrual blood is impure, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"فَلْتَقْرُصْهُ ثُمَّ لِتَنْضَحْهُ بِمَاءٍ ثُمَّ لِتُصَلِّي فِيهِ"
“She should scrape it, then sprinkle water over it, then pray in it.”
[Bukhārī 307]
Sleeping with a Menstruating Wife
Umm Salamah (رضي الله عنها) narrated that she was menstruating while lying under the same blanket with the Prophet ﷺ.
[Bukhārī 322]
Eid Participation
Menstruating women should join in Eid gatherings, though they should avoid the prayer area.
[Bukhārī 324]
Entering the Mosque
The Prophet ﷺ told ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها):
"إِنَّ حَيْضَتَكِ لَيْسَتْ فِي يَدِكِ"
“Your menstruation is not in your hand.”
[Muslim 299]
Divorce During Menstruation is Prohibited
Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) gave divorce to his wife during her menstruation, and the Prophet ﷺ was angered and instructed him to wait until she became pure.
[Bukhārī 7160; Muslim 1095]
If Bleeding Occurs in Intervals
The correct view is that whenever a woman sees blood, she refrains from prayer, fasting, and intercourse, and once she attains purity, she performs ghusl and resumes normal worship.
[Fatāwā Ibn Bāz 1/55; Fatāwā al-Saʿdiyyah p. 135]
Intercourse with a Woman in Istihāḍah (Irregular Bleeding)
- Ḥamnah bint Jaḥsh (رضي الله عنها) said that her husband would have intercourse with her despite her irregular bleeding.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd 303] - ʿIkrimah reported the same about Umm Ḥabībah (رضي الله عنها).
[Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd 302]
The majority agree with this.
[Nayl al-Awṭār 1/411]
Age at Which Menstruation Ends
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn: There is no fixed age—it ends when menstruation naturally ceases and does not return.
[Fatāwā al-Marʾah al-Muslimah 1/268]
This is the correct view.
[al-Majmūʿ 2/374]
Post-Childbirth Without Bleeding
If a woman does not bleed after childbirth, she must still perform ghusl and fulfill prayers and fasting.
[Fatāwā al-Lajnah 1/420]
Taking Medicine to Delay Menstruation
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn: It is not prohibited, but it may cause harm and disrupt the natural cycle.
[Majmūʿ Fatāwā Ibn ʿUthaymīn 4/283]
Making up Fasts but not Prayers
ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) explained that they were commanded to make up missed fasts but not missed prayers.
[Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd 236; Bukhārī 321; Muslim 335; Tirmidhī 130]
There is unanimous agreement on this among the scholars.
[al-Majmūʿ 2/351-355; al-Sayl al-Jarrār 1/148; al-Ijmāʿ Ibn al-Mundhir p. 37]
al-Ṣiddīq Ḥasan Khān: Rejection of this by the Khārijites is of no consequence.
[al-Rawḍah al-Nadiyyah 1/190]
