Major Impurity and

Menstrual Periods

Ja.naa.bah is the state of major impurity which requires bathing (Ghusl) for purification and includes sexual intercourse and any type of ejaculation (male or female). There are specific limitations on Muslims with regards to acts of worship while they are in the state of ja.naa.bah or if they are menstruating women.

 

PRAYING SALAAT

Women are exempt and prohibited from praying Salaat during their menstrual periods.

Once a woman's periods are over, she can wash her privates and then perform Ghusl (bathe) before resuming Salaat.

She does not have to make up for the Salaat missed during the periods.

ENTERING THE MOSQUE & EID PRAYER

Anyone (men or women) in the state of major impurity and menstruating women cannot enter the "prayer area" of mosques. While they can enter the mosque building but are prohibited from entering the prayer hall.

Similarly, menstruating women are encouraged join and participate in the Eid gathering but are not allowed to join in the Eid Salaat. If the Eid gathering is in a large enclosure—e.g. in a hotel, a hall or at a convention center, menstruating women may come inside the enclosure, but sit or stand behind the rows of praying women.

 

FASTING

Menstruating women are exempted from fasting, regardless of whether they feel themselves weakened by it or not. However, the menstruating woman must make up the missed days of fasting after Ramadan.

 

TOUCHING AND RECITING THE QURAN

Anyone (men or women) in the state of major impurity and menstruating women cannot physically touch the Quran (the Arabic text). In the issue of reciting Quran from memory, there is a difference in opinion among scholars but many believe that menstruating women can recite the Quran from memory without actually touching the Arabic Quran.