Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
In certain places I have read that a woman is allowed to recite the Qur’an during menstruation, as long as she does not touch it. However, in other places, I have read that a menstruating woman is not allowed to even recite the Qur’an. Which is correct? What about dhikr or reciting suras from memory?
Finally, is a woman supposed to make up all the prayers she missed when she was menstruating?
Walaikum assalam,
It is the definite and clear position of the Hanafi school (and the overwhelming majority of the fuqaha of our Ummah) that a woman is not allowed to touch or recite the Qur’an during her menses. As for dhikr and supplications, they remain recommended.
Women do not have to makeup the prayers missed during menses.
Related issues:
It is permitted to hold dua/wird books with Qur’an in them, in a state of menstruation.
It is permitted to recite duas from the Qur’an, with the intention of supplication, though not with the intention of reciting the Qur’an.
Wudu is not valid during menstruation. However, it is recommended that women perform wudu, and sit in their normal place of prayer for the extent of performing each prayer, supplicating and making dhikr. There is great reward in this, though most neglect it.
Like the great Hanafi faqih, theologian, and sufi of the Naqshabandi tariqa, Sayyidi Abd al-Ghani al-Nablusi said,
“Be with Allah / You’ll find Allah with you.”
Wassalam,