Menstruation in Islam: What Can Muslim Women Do During Their Period?
Menstruation in Islam comes with specific rulings concerning prayer, fasting, Quran recitation, and marital relations. Islam does not treat menstruation as a punishment or something shameful. Rather, Islamic teachings provide women with specific concessions during their menstrual period.
A menstruating woman does not pray or fast during her period, but she can continue making dua, remembering Allah, and engaging in many other acts of worship. Sexual intercourse during menstruation is prohibited, while ordinary affection between spouses is not.
The rulings below are based on the Quran, authentic hadith, and established Islamic scholarship. Where scholars differ, that difference is stated clearly, and readers should follow a trusted qualified scholar.
Key Points:
- A menstruating woman does not perform Salah, and she does not make up the missed prayers.
- She does not fast during Ramadan, but she makes up the missed obligatory fasts later.
- She can make dua and dhikr, including SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, and Astaghfirullah.
- Quran recitation and touching the Mushaf involve a difference of scholarly opinion; follow a trusted qualified scholar.
- Sexual intercourse during menstruation is prohibited (Quran 2:222), while ordinary affection and companionship are not.
- Menstruation creates ritual impurity for specific acts of worship; it does not make a woman impure as a person.
- Prayer resumes after menstruation ends and ghusl is performed.
Women can also continue making dua for pain and asking Allah for relief when menstruation causes physical discomfort.
What Is Menstruation in Islam?
Menstruation, or hayd, is the natural monthly bleeding experienced by women. Islam recognizes menstruation as a natural condition and provides specific rulings for women during this time.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explained that menstruation is something Allah has decreed for the daughters of Adam. When Aisha (RA) began menstruating during Hajj, the Prophet ﷺ told her:
“This is something which Allah has decreed for the daughters of Adam.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 294
This shows that menstruation is a natural condition and not something for which a woman should feel ashamed.
Can Women Pray During Their Periods?
No. A menstruating woman does not perform Salah during her menstrual period. This includes both obligatory and voluntary prayers.
However, she does not make up the prayers missed during menstruation after becoming pure. Aisha (RA) was asked about making up prayer and fasting after menstruation. She explained:
“We were ordered to make up the fasts and were not ordered to make up the prayers.”
Sahih Muslim 335
Therefore:
- A woman does not pray during menstruation.
- She does not need to make up those missed prayers.
- She resumes Salah after her menstruation ends and she performs ghusl.
This is a concession given by Islamic law and should not be understood as a punishment or a sign of impurity as a person.
Can Women Fast During Their Periods?
No. A menstruating woman does not fast during Ramadan. If menstruation begins while a woman is fasting, that day’s fast is no longer valid and must be made up later.
Unlike Salah, missed obligatory fasts must be made up after menstruation ends. Aisha (RA) said:
“That used to happen to us, and we were commanded to make up the fasts, but we were not commanded to make up the prayers.”
Sahih Muslim 335
What Happens If the Period Ends During Ramadan?
Once menstruation ends, the woman performs ghusl and resumes fasting and Salah as normal. Missed Ramadan fasts are made up later. There is no need to make up the prayers missed during menstruation.
Can Women Recite the Quran During Menstruation?
This question has a difference of scholarly opinion. There is no need to present the matter as though all Islamic scholars have one unanimous ruling. Some scholars prohibit a menstruating woman from reciting Quran from memory, while other scholars permit it. Therefore, if you follow a particular madhhab or scholar, follow their ruling.
What About Reading the Quran From a Phone?
Reading Quran from a digital device is treated differently by some scholars from physically touching a printed Mushaf. Because the detailed fiqh rulings differ, Muslims should follow the position of a qualified scholar. What should be avoided is presenting one disputed position as an undisputed Islamic ruling.
Can a Menstruating Woman Touch the Quran?
The ruling concerning physically touching the Mushaf is also a matter of established scholarly discussion. The majority of classical scholars generally prohibit a person in a state of major ritual impurity from touching the Mushaf directly. For this reason, it is safer to say: a menstruating woman should follow the ruling of a trusted qualified scholar regarding physically touching the Mushaf. Reading Quran from a phone or another digital device is a separate issue and has different scholarly discussion.
Can Women Make Dua During Their Periods?
Yes. A menstruating woman can make dua to Allah. She can ask Allah for forgiveness, guidance, protection, healing, mercy, provision, family wellbeing, and success in this life and the Hereafter. There is no general prohibition on making dua during menstruation. She can also engage in permissible forms of dhikr and remembrance of Allah.
You can also explore our collection of Islamic duas.
Can Women Do Dhikr During Their Periods?
Yes. A menstruating woman can remember Allah and engage in dhikr. She can say SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, and Astaghfirullah. She can also send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ and make personal dua. Menstruation does not mean that a woman must stop all forms of worship.
Can a Husband Touch His Wife During Her Period?
Yes. Menstruation does not mean that a husband must completely avoid his wife. The Prophet ﷺ demonstrated that a menstruating woman can remain close to her husband. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Do everything except intercourse.”
Sahih Muslim 302
Therefore, ordinary affection and companionship are not prohibited simply because the wife is menstruating.
Can a Husband Kiss His Wife During Her Period?
Yes, kissing and ordinary affection are not generally prohibited during menstruation. The prohibition concerns sexual intercourse during menstruation, not every form of affection. The Quran says:
“They ask you about menstruation. Say, ‘It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation.’”
Quran 2:222
The Prophet ﷺ clarified the meaning through his Sunnah. Therefore, a husband and wife can maintain affection and companionship during this time while observing the prohibition on intercourse.
Is Sexual Intercourse Allowed During Menstruation?
No. Vaginal sexual intercourse during menstruation is prohibited in Islam. Allah says:
“And do not approach them until they are pure.”
Quran 2:222
The prohibition applies to intercourse during menstruation. However, Islam does not command a husband to isolate or completely avoid his wife during this time.
What Should a Husband Do When His Wife Is on Her Period?
A husband should treat his wife with kindness, respect and consideration. He can spend time with her, talk to her normally, show affection within Islamic boundaries, help with household responsibilities, support her if she is experiencing discomfort, avoid making her feel ashamed about menstruation, and be patient and understanding. Menstruation is a natural condition, not something that makes a woman impure as a person. The restrictions concern specific acts of worship and marital intercourse, not the woman’s dignity.
Does Menstruation Make a Woman Impure?
Menstruation creates a state of ritual impurity (hadath) that has specific legal consequences for acts such as Salah and fasting. This does not mean that the woman herself is dirty, sinful, or morally impure. Aisha (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ would eat and drink with her while she was menstruating, and he would sleep next to her. Sahih Muslim 300. This is an important distinction between ritual rulings and personal cleanliness.
When Can a Woman Resume Prayer After Her Period?
A woman resumes prayer when her menstruation has ended and she has performed ghusl. The signs of the end of menstruation can vary between women. Once a woman is certain that her period has ended, she performs ghusl and resumes Salah. Because details concerning signs of purity and irregular bleeding can vary, women with uncertainty should consult a trusted qualified scholar.
Does a Woman Need to Make Up Missed Prayers?
No. Missed prayers during menstruation do not have to be made up. This is based on the authentic statement of Aisha (RA): “We were ordered to make up the fasts and were not ordered to make up the prayers.” Sahih Muslim 335. This is an important difference between missed Ramadan fasts and prayers missed during menstruation.
Does a Woman Need to Make Up Missed Ramadan Fasts?
Yes. If a woman misses obligatory Ramadan fasts because of menstruation, she makes them up after Ramadan. The hadith of Aisha (RA) establishes that women were instructed to make up the missed fasts but not the missed prayers. Sahih Muslim 335.
Can a Menstruating Woman Go to the Mosque?
This is a matter with detailed scholarly discussion, and rulings can differ depending on the circumstances, such as whether the woman is passing through or staying in the mosque, and which scholarly position is followed. Therefore, rather than giving a simplistic universal answer, a woman should follow the guidance of a trusted qualified scholar on this question.
Can Women Read Islamic Books During Their Periods?
Yes, menstruation does not prevent a woman from learning about Islam. She can study Islamic history, hadith, fiqh, tafsir, seerah, Islamic lectures, and educational material. Specific rulings can differ if a book contains a full Mushaf or substantial Quranic text, so the same caution about touching a printed Mushaf applies there, and a qualified scholar should be consulted where needed.
Menstruation in Islam: What Women Can and Cannot Do
| Activity | During Menstruation |
|---|---|
| Salah (prayer) | No — and no make-up is required |
| Fasting in Ramadan | No — missed fasts are made up later |
| Dua and dhikr | Yes |
| Quran recitation | Difference of scholarly opinion — follow a qualified scholar |
| Touching the Mushaf | Majority of classical scholars prohibit direct touching; digital reading is a separate issue |
| Sexual intercourse | No |
| Kissing and ordinary affection | Yes, within Islamic boundaries |
| Going to the mosque | Detailed scholarly discussion — follow a qualified scholar |
| Reading Islamic books | Yes, with the Mushaf caution above |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can women pray during periods in Islam?
No. A menstruating woman does not perform Salah, and she does not have to make up the prayers missed during menstruation.
Can women fast during periods in Islam?
No. A menstruating woman does not fast in Ramadan. Missed obligatory fasts are made up later.
Can women read Quran during menstruation?
There is a difference of scholarly opinion regarding Quran recitation during menstruation. Some scholars prohibit it and others permit it, so follow a trusted qualified scholar.
Can women touch the Quran during menstruation?
The majority of classical scholars generally prohibit directly touching the Mushaf while in a state of major ritual impurity. Reading from a digital device is a separate issue with different scholarly discussion.
Can a husband kiss his wife during her period?
Yes. Menstruation does not prohibit ordinary affection such as kissing and touching. Sexual intercourse during menstruation is prohibited.
Can a husband sleep next to his wife during her period?
Yes. A husband can sleep next to his menstruating wife. Islam does not require spouses to separate during menstruation.
Can a woman make dua during her period?
Yes. A menstruating woman can make dua and ask Allah for forgiveness, guidance, healing, protection, and other needs.
Does a woman have to make up Salah after her period?
No. Missed prayers during menstruation do not have to be made up.
Does a woman have to make up Ramadan fasts after her period?
Yes. Missed obligatory Ramadan fasts are made up later.
Final Thoughts
Menstruation in Islam comes with specific rulings, but it does not make a woman impure as a person. During menstruation, a woman does not perform Salah or fast in Ramadan, and missed prayers do not have to be made up, while missed Ramadan fasts are made up later.
Women can continue making dua, dhikr, learning Islam and engaging in many other forms of worship. Regarding Quran recitation and touching the Mushaf, there are differences among Islamic scholars, so a trusted qualified scholar should be followed. Marriage also does not stop during menstruation. Husbands can show affection and kindness, while observing the prohibition on sexual intercourse during menstruation.
Islam’s guidance provides both religious obligations and ease, while preserving the dignity of women. May Allah grant Muslim women knowledge, ease, good health and steadfastness upon His guidance. Ameen.
Sources and References
- Quran 2:222 — Menstruation
- Sahih Muslim 335 — Fasting and prayer during menstruation
- Sahih Muslim 302 — Marital relations during menstruation
- Sahih Muslim 300 — Prophet’s conduct with Aisha during menstruation
- Sahih al-Bukhari 294 — Menstruation during Hajj
