Answered by Shaykh Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf Mangera
My question is in regard to menstruating women and being in the masjid. If an apartment or small house was made into a masjid and the same room the salaah is performed classes are held, would a menstruating woman be allowed to come to the classes?
Assalamu alaykum
In the name of Allah the Inspirer of truth.
If the masjid is a permanent masjid that has been dedicated by the community for such and is considered a permanent endowment or like an endowment. This means that is not a rented apartment, house or industrial unit which is used temporarily until the community can afford to purchase a permanent place.
In the above case it would be permissible for menstruating women to enter into the prayer area and take part in classes. However, since it is used as a masjid for the daily prayers then menstruating women should not enter into the prayer area unnecessarily. It would be superior to arrange seating for all the women or at least the menstruating ones in an adjacent room. However, if this is not possible then menstruating women could also enter into the women’s prayer area of the prayer hall.
In the case that it is a proper masjid then it would not be permissible for menstruating women to enter into the prayer area [the shar’i masjid] for this or other reasons. However, if there are multi-purpose rooms within the building which are not designated permanently for prayer (as is found in many Islamic centers nowadays), then menstruating women are allowed to enter into those rooms for classes. Basically, a masjid is the room or hall that has been permanently designated for prayer, even if there are other rooms in the building.
[Insha Allah, a more detailed treatise on the description and boundaries of a masajid and related fiqh coming soon].
And Allah knows best.
Wassalam
Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf Mangera