Question:
Assalamu Alaikum, Is it permissible for a woman to enter the masjid or sit in the masjid during her menstruating cycle?
ANSWER:
Wa Alaikumus Salam,
It is not permissible for a woman who is in her menses to enter the masjid or to sit in it.
Here, the masjid refers to the area which has been fixed for praying salaah for males and females. As for other areas in a masid like the hall or kitchen etc, a woman in her menses can enter and sit in those areas. If there is any room built in a masjid which is away/separate from the fixed praying area, then a woman in menses can sit in that room also.
It should also be understood that besides the masjid, a woman in menses is also prohibited from entering such areas where salaah is performed/established regularly or has been fixed for salaah. Therefore, if in one’s home, an area (or room) has been fixed for salaah (like a namaz room or salaah room), then a woman in menses will not be allowed to enter or sit in that room.
In a similar manner, if the Eid Salaah is performed in an open field (like an Eidgah or Open-air Eid), then women in menses will not be allowed to enter or sit in that area which has been fixed for the performance of the Eid Salaah. They can sit behind this area.
And Allah knows best
Mufti Waseem Khan
8/2/19