QUESTION:
What do the scholars and muftīs of the mighty Sharī’ah say regarding the following matter: During the period of menstruation, what restrictions are there between a husband and wife, and which physical interactions can they carry out?
Questioner: Sister from England
ANSWER:
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب
It is harām to have sexual intercourse in the state of menstruation. To consider intercourse to be permissible in this state is kufr (disbelief), and if it is done whilst considering it harām, then it is a major sinner; repentance (tawbah) is obligatory upon such a person, and one should give charity for the acceptance of the tawbah.
In the state of menstruation, it is not permissible for the man to touch the naked body of the woman from the naval to the knees, regardless of whether it is done with or without lust. If there is some cloth, etc acting as a barrier which prevents the heat of the body being felt, then there is no harm. There is no harm in touching or gaining benefit from that which is below the knees or above the naval, and kissing is also permissible. Feeding one another and sleeping in one place are permissible, in fact, to not sleep together for this reason is makrūh (disliked). The woman can touch any part of the man’s body in this state.
Having intercourse with menstruating woman is harām, as Allāh (Most High) states,
{وَ یَسْـَٔلُوۡنَکَ عَنِ الْمَحِیۡضِ ؕ قُلْ ہُوَ اَذًی ۙ فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَآءَ فِی الْمَحِیۡضِ ۙ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوۡہُنَّ حَتّٰی یَطْہُرْنَ}
{And they ask you (O Beloved), the ruling regarding menstruation. Say you, “It is impurity, so stay away from women in the days of menstruation, and do not approach them until they are pure”}
[Sūrah al-Baqarah, 222]
To consider intercourse permissible in the state of menstruation is kufr, just as it is stated in Bahār-e-Sharī’at that to consider intercourse permissible in this state [of menses] is kufr, and if he did it [intercourse] whilst considering it harām, he is a major sinner; tawbah is obligatory upon him. If he did this at the beginning [of the menses], then it is mustahabb (recommended) to give one dīnār in charity (sadaqah) and if he did it towards its [menses] end, then half a dīnār.
[Bahār-e-Sharī’at, vol 1, part 2, pg 382]
In the state of menstruation, it is not permissible for the man to touch the naked body of a woman from the naval to the knees, just as it is stated in al-Durr al-Mukhtār,
“وَقُرْبَانُ مَا تَحْتَ إزَارٍيَعْنِي مَا بَيْنَ سُرَّةٍ وَرُكْبَةٍ وَلَوْ بِلَا شَهْوَةٍ، وَحَلَّ مَا عَدَاهُ مُطْلَقًافَيَجُوزُ الِاسْتِمْتَاعُ بِالسُّرَّةِ وَمَا فَوْقَهَا وَالرُّكْبَةِ وَمَا تَحْتَهَا وَلَوْ بِلَا حَائِلٍ”
“It is not permissible to touch the naked body of a woman from the naval to the knees, even if it is without lust, and to touch or to seek enjoyment from what is above the naval or below the knees is permissible, even if there is no cloth, etc. acting as a barrier.”
[al-Durr al-Mukhtār wa Radd al-Muhtār, vol 1, pg 534]
To sleep separately from the woman due to menstruation is makrūh, just as ‘Allāmah Shāmī states, whilst giving reference to ‘Walwālijiyyah’ and ‘al-Sirāj’,
“وَفِي الْوَلْوَالِجيَّةِ:وَلَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَعْزِلَ عَنْ فِرَاشِهَا؛ لِأَنَّ ذَلِكَ يُشْبِهُ فِعْلَ الْيَهُودِ بَحْرٌ.وَفِي السِّرَاجِ يُكْرَهُ أَنْ يَعْزِلَهَا فِي مَوْضِعٍ لَا يُخَالِطُهَا فِيهِ”
[Radd al-Muhtār, vol 1, pg 534]
In the state of menstruation, the woman can touch any part of the man’s body just as it is stated in Radd al-Muhtār,
“هِيَ لَهَا أَنْ تَلْمِسَ بِجَمِيعِ بَدَنِهَا إلَّا مَا تَحْتَ الْإِزَارِ جَمِيعَ بَدَنِهِ حَتَّى ذَكَرَهُ”
“Other than the area between her naval and knees, the woman can touch any part of the man’s body with her own body, including his private organ.”
[al-Durr al-Mukhtār wa Radd al-Muhtār, vol 1, pg 534]
واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری
Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri
Translated by Zameer Ahmed
Read the original Urdu answer here – [Q-ID0326] What are the physical restrictions between Husband and Wife during menstruation (hayz)?
Also see:
[Q-ID0290] Can I attend a Mawlid gathering in the Masjid if I am on my menstruation cycle (periods)?
[Q-ID0229] How should one behave on their wedding night? (18+)
[Q-ID0182] Do I have to make-up prayers I missed due to my periods?
[Q-ID0151] Can women enter the Masjid if on their menstrual cycle?
[Q-ID0077] Can I recite salawat/durood shareef whilst I am on my menstrual cycle?
