First of all, the Shariah deals with the sexually defiled men/women
and menstruating women in very different matters and ways. There are
lots of differences between them:
*. The sexually defiled man/woman can at any time he/she wishes remove
that state. He/she can make ghusl and if there is no water then they
can perform tayammum.
*. Menstruating woman can not do such a thing, she is in that state
for as long as Allah (SWT) wills, until her period comes to an end.
Recitation of the Quran by menstruating and post-partum bleeding women
has been made permissible by the Malikis, Shafis, Hanbalis, Abu
Hanifa, and a number of other scholars. Their proof being:
*. Hadith of Bukhari and Muslim concerning the Eid prayer. Narrated
Umm 'Atiya (RA):
*. "I heard Allah's Messenger (SAW) saying that the unmarried virgins
and the mature girls and the menstruating women should come out and
participate in the good deeds as well as invocations of faithful
believers but the menstruating women should keep away from the
Musallah - praying place [Salat (prayers)]. Someone asked (Umm
'Atiya)(surprisingly), "Do you say the menstruating women?" She
replied, "Doesn't a menstruating woman attend 'Arafat (Hajj) and such
and such(other deeds)?"
*. Takbeer is a type of remembrance of Allah (SWT) and supplication is
not any different from dhikr
*. Hadith of Bukhari regarding Aisha (RA) when she got her menses on
the way to Mecca.
Narrated 'Aisha (RA):
"We set out with the sole intention of performing Hajj and when we
reached Sarif, (11 kms. from Makka, I got my menses. Allah's
Messenger (SAW) came to me while I was weeping. He said "What is the
matter with you? Have you got your menses? I replied, "Yes." He said,
"This is a thing Allah (SWT) has ordained for the daughters of Adam.So
do what all the pilgrimsdo with the exception of Tawaf
(Circumambulation) round the Ka'bah." 'Aisha (RA), added, "Allah's
Messenger (SAW) sacrificed cows on behalf of his wives."
Pilgrims make dhikr and read Quran. There was no objection from the
Prophet (SAW) and he (SAW) actually "told" Aisha(RA) to do so.
Another reason being hardship. A woman might forget what she memorized.
So therefore if there is no text forbidding such an act, one cannot
conclude that the act is not allowable. The burden of proof is on
those who claim that such women cannot recite the Quran, and they
offer no clear or direct proof.
There is no harm whatsoever in a menstruating woman or post-partum
bleeding woman reciting the Quran from their memory without actually
touching the Quran.
Touching the Quran During the Menstruation and Post-Partum Bleeding
The most often quoted evidences, is an Ayat from the Quran:
".... None can touch but those who are pure..." (Al-Waqi'a 56:79)
A common mistake, is people taking verses and applying it to a
particular Fiqh (point). Yet when you study the verse in more detail
you will find, in fact, it is not related to the point whatsoever.
"That (this) is indeed an honourable recital (the Noble Quran). In a
Book well-guarded (with Allah in the heaven i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz).
Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but those who are pure
from sins (i.e. the angels). A Revelation (this Quran) from the Lord
of the Alamin (mankind, jinns, and all that exists). (Al-Waqi'a
56:77-80).
Put into context this A yat refers to "…a Book well-guarded," and this
means a Book with Allah (SWT). It is not talking about the physical
Quran we have in our presence here on earth..
Ibn Abbas (RA) and others, along with the early scholars, agree that
this verse is not talking about the Quran that we have in our hands. A
Book well-guarded refers to something that is hidden (Maknoon) . It is
not referring to the Quran we have in our presence here on earth.
Early scholars all agree to this conclusion.
"...In a Book well-guarded (with Allah in the heaven i.e. Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz).
According to the Tafsir of Tabari and Ibn Kathir and also according
to Jamal al-deen al-Qasami, this Ayat is not in reference to humans
having to be free from impurities.
" Which (that Book with Allah) none can touch but those who are pure
from sins (i.e. the angels)."
This verse in reference to the Angels and not mankind. In a Hadith
narrated by Abu Hurayrah (RA), the Prophet (SAW) states, "a believer
never becomes impure."
"The Prophet (SAW) came across me in one of the streets of Medina and
at that time I was in a state of Janaba. So I slipped away from him
and went to take a bath.
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