Is it permissible for a person in a state of major ritual impurity to recite the Qur'an, the Mu'awwidhat, Ayat al-Kursi, and some of the dhikr reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) before sleeping while in a state of major ritual impurity?
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The questioner : Is it permissible for a person in a state of major ritual impurity to recite the Qur'an, the Mu'awwidhat, Ayat al-Kursi, and some of the dhikr reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) before sleeping while in a state of major ritual impurity?
The Shaykh : Reciting the Qur'an while in a state of major ritual impurity is not permissible according to the most correct opinion of the scholars, which is the opinion of the majority of scholars as far as I know. This is because a person in a state of major ritual impurity is able to perform the full ritual bath and remove the impediment, unlike a woman with menstruation. The most correct opinion of the scholars is that a woman with menstruation may recite the Qur'an for the sake of public benefit or pressing need. Reciting it for public benefit is like reciting the regular Qur'anic portions, such as Ayat al-Kursi, the last two verses of Surat al-Baqarah, "Say, He is Allah, the One," and the two chapters of protection (al-Mu'awwidhat). Reciting it for pressing need is like reciting it out of fear of forgetting, or to take an exam in school, or to teach her children, or similar matters.
The difference between a woman with menstruation and a person in a state of major ritual impurity is that the woman with menstruation cannot remove the impediment, whereas the person in a state of major ritual impurity can. Therefore, we say to the person in a state of major ritual impurity: if you want to recite the regular Qur'anic portions, perform the full ritual bath and then recite them. This is better and more pure.
As for dhikr and regular portions other than the Qur'an, there is nothing wrong with a person in a state of major ritual impurity reciting them, based on the statement of 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her):Bulugh al-Maram 78 However, the remembrance of Allah the Exalted is better when one is in a state of ritual purity than when one is not, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: or words to that effect. But it is not prohibited for a person to remember his Lord while in a state of major ritual impurity with something other than the Qur'an.
It is also permissible for a person in a state of major ritual impurity to remember Allah the Exalted with what corresponds to the Qur'an, provided he does not intend to recite it. He may say:[Al-Fatihah 1:1], and he may say when struck by a calamity: [Al-Baqarah 2:156], and he may say: [Al-Anbya 21:87], and he may say: [Al-Baqarah 2:201], provided he does not intend to recite it.
The Shaykh : Reciting the Qur'an while in a state of major ritual impurity is not permissible according to the most correct opinion of the scholars, which is the opinion of the majority of scholars as far as I know. This is because a person in a state of major ritual impurity is able to perform the full ritual bath and remove the impediment, unlike a woman with menstruation. The most correct opinion of the scholars is that a woman with menstruation may recite the Qur'an for the sake of public benefit or pressing need. Reciting it for public benefit is like reciting the regular Qur'anic portions, such as Ayat al-Kursi, the last two verses of Surat al-Baqarah, "Say, He is Allah, the One," and the two chapters of protection (al-Mu'awwidhat). Reciting it for pressing need is like reciting it out of fear of forgetting, or to take an exam in school, or to teach her children, or similar matters.
The difference between a woman with menstruation and a person in a state of major ritual impurity is that the woman with menstruation cannot remove the impediment, whereas the person in a state of major ritual impurity can. Therefore, we say to the person in a state of major ritual impurity: if you want to recite the regular Qur'anic portions, perform the full ritual bath and then recite them. This is better and more pure.
As for dhikr and regular portions other than the Qur'an, there is nothing wrong with a person in a state of major ritual impurity reciting them, based on the statement of 'Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her):
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to mention Allah’s Name (praise Him) at all times.
كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يذكر الله على كل أحيانهI love not to remember Allah except in a state of ritual purity
إني أحب أن لا أذكر الله إلا على طهارةIt is also permissible for a person in a state of major ritual impurity to remember Allah the Exalted with what corresponds to the Qur'an, provided he does not intend to recite it. He may say: