Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
When a women is on her menses, is she able to recite the quranic dua and regular ayaat that she normally recites. I know in Hanafi a women is meant to recite in her heart, but I find this very difficult and thus break out of my good habits during the menstruation period, and then find it very difficult to restart both prayers and regular quran once the week is over, and I weaken inside. Can one take one of the other opinions of the Sunni Madaahib in this matter, and if so, what are they?
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
1. It is permitted for women to read Qur’anic verses for protection, dua, and the intention of dhikr (as opposed to Qur’anic recitation), even if out loud. See answers below.
2. It is permitted to look at the Qur’an, and to touch it with a barrier (e.g. a cloth one is not wearing). It is permitted to read the Qur’an (without pronouncing the words), without reciting it.
3. It is recommended in the Hanafi school for women in their periods to sit making dhikr in the place they normally pray, in order to keep up their good habits.
4. It is not disliked for women in their periods to recite litanies (ahzab, sing: hizb) of supplications, such as those of Imam Shadhili, Imam Haddad, Imam Nawawi, and others. It is permitted to recite even the Qur’anic verses in these litanies, with the intention of dhikr or dua.
5. It is highly praiseworthy to listen to the Qur’an, even recorded. There is great benefit if this is from the recitation of a master, such as Hussary. Good recordings of his are commonly available on the Net.
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani