What is the ruling on a husband having physical contact with his menstruating wife, and what is required of him afterward?

The questioner : The questioner asks: Is it permissible for a man to kiss his wife and have physical contact with her while she is menstruating, without having sexual intercourse? And is it obligatory for him to perform the full ritual bath, or is the ablution sufficient?

The Shaykh : It is permissible for a man to have physical contact with his wife and kiss her, provided there is no emission, if she is menstruating. However, it is not permissible for him to have sexual intercourse with her while she is menstruating, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: . The word "mahiḍ" (menstruation) refers to both the place and the time. The place is the location of the menses, which is the private part. Therefore, a man should not have sexual intercourse with his wife while she is menstruating. As for taking pleasure from her in ways other than intercourse, there is nothing wrong with that. Then, if something is emitted from him, he must do what is required for the emission of that substance. If it is pre-seminal fluid, the full ritual bath is obligatory for him. If it is a thick fluid passed after urination, he must wash his penis and his testicles and perform the ablution. If nothing is emitted, and it is merely touching with desire, then the correct view is that the ablution is not invalidated by touching a woman with desire; rather, it is recommended to perform the ablution after touching a woman with desire, and there is no harm.