What are the rulings consequent upon a woman's menstruation?
A menstruating woman has many rulings, among them:
1. Prayer: It is forbidden for her to perform prayer, and she must make up for it if she experienced a full unit (rak'ah) of its time. She is permitted to engage in remembrance (dhikr), read hadith and fiqh, supplicate, and listen to the Qur'an. As for reciting the Qur'an with her tongue, there is a difference of opinion, and it is better not to recite it except out of necessity.
2. Fasting: It is forbidden for her to fast, and she must make up for any obligatory fasts. If she menstruates while fasting, her fast becomes invalid. If she feels the onset of menstruation before sunset but it does not appear until after sunset, her fast is valid.
3. Circumambulating the Kaaba (Tawaf): It is forbidden for her to perform tawaf. However, the rest of the rituals of Hajj and Umrah are not forbidden for her.
4. Waiver of Farewell Tawaf: The farewell tawaf is waived for her if she menstruates before her departure and the menstruation continues.
5. Staying in the Mosque: It is forbidden for her to stay in the mosque, even the Eid prayer area.
6. Intercourse: It is forbidden for the husband to have intercourse with her, and it is forbidden for her to enable him to do so. He is permitted to enjoy anything below the private parts, and it is better to engage in intimacy between the navel and the knee with a barrier in between.
7. Divorce: It is forbidden for the husband to divorce her during her menstruation, except in three cases: before seclusion (khilwah) or touch (mass), or if the menstruation occurs during pregnancy, or if the divorce is in exchange for compensation.
8. Counting the waiting period ('Iddah): A divorced woman observes a waiting period of three menstrual cycles if she is of childbearing age and not pregnant, or until she delivers her child if she is pregnant, or three months for those who have despaired of menstruation or have not menstruated.
9. Proof of a clear womb: Menstruation is considered proof that the womb is clear of pregnancy.
10. Obligation of Ghusl: She must perform ghusl (ritual bath) after purity, and it is preferable for it to be in the manner reported from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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