The Ruling on a Menstruating Woman Reciting the Qur'an
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Question: What is the ruling on a menstruating woman reciting from the mushaf, and reciting from memory? I am accustomed to reciting certain verses regularly. Do I commit a sin if I recite while in this state? Sometimes I forget and recite the Qur'an, and after I remember, I stop the verses. Also, what is the ruling on reciting it during an exam for a menstruating woman, or reciting part of the verses in certain subjects, such as tawhid (the oneness of Allah) and fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), if the matter requires reciting verses for grammatical analysis or explanation, or the like?
Answer: One who is in a state of major ritual impurity, whether from janabah (major ritual impurity) or menstruation, is prohibited from reciting the Qur'an, whether from memory or from the mushaf. In fact, he is prohibited from touching the mushaf, even if he does not read from it, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him),As in the hadith of 'Amr ibn Huzaym:Muwatta Malik 15:1 , it is not permissible for one in a state of major or minor ritual impurity to touch the mushaf, due to this hadith,And this is agreed upon by the four imams: that one in a state of minor ritual impurity is not permitted to touch the mushaf without a barrier. As for reciting from memory, one in a state of minor ritual impurity has no objection to reciting the Qur'an.
As for one in a state of major ritual impurity, he does not recite the Qur'an, neither from the mushaf nor from memory, except for a menstruating woman in a state of dire necessity. In the case of exams, if she fears that the exam will be missed, there is no objection to her reciting the Qur'an to take the exam to the extent of the necessity. Likewise, if she is memorizing verses or chapters from the Qur'an and fears forgetting them, because the period of menstruation or post-natal bleeding is long, there is no objection to her reciting the Qur'an to review it and prevent forgetting. In these two cases, there is no objection to a menstruating woman or a woman with post-natal bleeding reciting the Qur'an out of necessity, either for the sake of the exam or out of fear of forgetting. As for anything other than this, the issue is subject to scholarly disagreement, and the majority are of the opinion that it is prohibited. The safest course for her is to avoid reciting the Qur'an, as there is no need or necessity for it.
However, if she recites something from the Qur'an not with the intention of recitation (talaawah), but with the intention of dhikr (the remembrance of Allah), meaning she recites a verse or part of a verse with the intention of dhikr, which is dhikr that corresponds to the Qur'an or to some of the verses, there is no objection to this. This is because she did not intend recitation, but intended dhikr or du'a' (supplication) with it. Likewise, grammatical analysis (i'rab) if she performs it, this also does not fall under the ruling of recitation, so there is no objection to it. And Allah knows best.
Answer: One who is in a state of major ritual impurity, whether from janabah (major ritual impurity) or menstruation, is prohibited from reciting the Qur'an, whether from memory or from the mushaf. In fact, he is prohibited from touching the mushaf, even if he does not read from it, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him),As in the hadith of 'Amr ibn Huzaym:
no-one should touch the Qur'an unless he was pure
لا يمس القرآن إلا طاهرAs for one in a state of major ritual impurity, he does not recite the Qur'an, neither from the mushaf nor from memory, except for a menstruating woman in a state of dire necessity. In the case of exams, if she fears that the exam will be missed, there is no objection to her reciting the Qur'an to take the exam to the extent of the necessity. Likewise, if she is memorizing verses or chapters from the Qur'an and fears forgetting them, because the period of menstruation or post-natal bleeding is long, there is no objection to her reciting the Qur'an to review it and prevent forgetting. In these two cases, there is no objection to a menstruating woman or a woman with post-natal bleeding reciting the Qur'an out of necessity, either for the sake of the exam or out of fear of forgetting. As for anything other than this, the issue is subject to scholarly disagreement, and the majority are of the opinion that it is prohibited. The safest course for her is to avoid reciting the Qur'an, as there is no need or necessity for it.
However, if she recites something from the Qur'an not with the intention of recitation (talaawah), but with the intention of dhikr (the remembrance of Allah), meaning she recites a verse or part of a verse with the intention of dhikr, which is dhikr that corresponds to the Qur'an or to some of the verses, there is no objection to this. This is because she did not intend recitation, but intended dhikr or du'a' (supplication) with it. Likewise, grammatical analysis (i'rab) if she performs it, this also does not fall under the ruling of recitation, so there is no objection to it. And Allah knows best.