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Does having sexual intercourse with one's wife during menstruation, while knowing its prohibition, cause diseases proven by science? What is the ruling of Sharia on having intercourse with her using a condom? And how can one differentiate between menstrual blood and abnormal vaginal bleeding (Istihada)?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is forbidden to have intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period, whether through direct intercourse or by using a condom. The health harms are not limited to the man but also include the woman; it has been medically proven that intercourse with a menstruating woman can lead to severe bleeding and nervous disorders for the woman. There are medical studies that confirm this harm to both parties. A woman can distinguish between menstruation (hayd) and irregular bleeding (istihada) by color, odor, or by knowing her usual cycle. A Muslim must comply with the command of Allah Almighty, even if their intellect is unable to comprehend the wisdom behind it.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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