[SiM7W2zi]

Q) I was once told by a Maulana that whilst women are menstruating, it is not permissible for them to either 1) touch/recite Qur'an, not even one verse or 2) enter a masjid.

However, in recent times many people I meet are telling me differently, including people of knowledge. For example, a sheikh has told me that it is ok for the women to enter the masjid. I am pretty sure that the Hanafi school of thought holds that women are not allowed to enter the masjid, but I was wondering if it is possible to get the daleel for this so that I may be able to give a better explanation than,"Well, a Maulana told me that this was not permissible." Today, everyone wants proof.

Assalamu alaykum

In the name of Allah, the Inspirer of truth.

It is an agreed upon issue that a menstruating women or a person in the seminally defiled state is prohibited from entering the masjid. Many hadiths state this. To quote a few:

1. 'A'isha ra relates that the Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: "I do not make lawful the masjid for menstruating women or for one who is in a seminally defiled state [junub]. (Sunan Abu Dawud)

2. Umm Salama ra related that the Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam entered the courtyard of the masjid and announced aloud, "The masjid is not permitted for the seminally defiled and for the menstruating women." (Tabarani)

3. 'A'isha ra relates that the Prophet Sallallahu alayi wasallam called out from the masjid, "O 'A'isha, hand me the cloth." She told him that she was menstruating, so he said the menstruation is not in her hands [i.e. that she could hand him the cloth. Note: the door of her chamber opened up into the masjid]. (Sahih Muslim)

Also in regards to the prohibition of reciting a portion of the Qur'an for them, there are the following hadiths.

1. 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar relates that Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam said, "A menstruating women or a seminally defiled person should not recite any part of the Qur'an. (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Sunan al-Bayhaqi)

There are also other hadiths transmitted by Imam Daraqutni, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i, Ibn Maja, Abu Dawud, Ibn Hibban, Hakim and others in this regard (See Nasb al-Raya].

Another hadith found in the Muwatta of Imam Malik states that "Only a person in the state of purity should touch the Qur'an." This hadith has been transmitted by many other hadith scholars as well.

'Allama Zayla'i has discussed the hadiths pertaining to these questions thoroughly in his Nasb al-Raya. 1:194-199.

Hence, it is established that women in their periods are prohibited from entering the masjid area. The same pertains to those who are in a seminally defiled state and are in need of a ritual bath [ghusl]. However, it would be permissible for such people to enter a side hall or room in an Islamic Center that is not considered the actual masjid or sanctified prayer area, for instance to attend a dars or lecture.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalam
Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf

What is the Shaf'ae & Maliki Opinion on this matter?

[anfuckinggs]

w/salaam

Well the reason for women being banned earlier was that they did not have the right materials which would lead to impurity in the masjid itself, however today is different and a woman can go into a masjid without making the masjid impure.

This is what I have heard from an Alimah, however even today i have seen fatwas forbidding women to go to the masjid during their special times. but I think it is unavoidable especially if u r living in the west because a lot of education takes place in the masjid itself and there is now a woman's section in every masjid which is run by women. But Allah knows best.

I am sorry I do not know the Shaf'ae and Maliki opinion.

[SiM7W2zi]

w/salaam

Well the reason for women being banned earlier was that they did not have the right materials which would lead to impurity in the masjid itself, however today is different and a woman can go into a masjid without making the masjid impure.

This is what I have heard from an Alimah, however even today i have seen fatwas forbidding women to go to the masjid during their special times. but I think it is unavoidable especially if u r living in the west because a lot of education takes place in the masjid itself and there is now a woman's section in every masjid which is run by women. But Allah knows best.

I am sorry I do not know the Shaf'ae and Maliki opinion.

Asslamo Allaikum,

The simplest solution is to have a place for Sisters in an area other then Prayer Area and that way they get to listen to Talks, socialise (*) do other things and also follow the Sunnah.

Almost all Masjids have sound systems so this can be easily done.

(*) Socialising for Muslimahs in the West is crucial & in my humble opinion Communities should provide oppurtunites for our Sisters to talk and discuss things just like we men do. I know some Sisters who are Single-Mothers, Financially struggling and look forward to coming to Masjids and interacting with other Muslimahs once or twice a week. Just being with other Muslims lifts spirits up.

[anfuckinggs]

U r right, but in all the masjids I have been in so far, most of the activites happen in the same room as they pray. Of course it depends on the size of the whole masjid as well, but the bigger the masjid is mashallah more ppl come to pray.

[SiM7W2zi]

Asslamo Allaikum,

Anyone know the Shaf'ae & the Maliki position on this please?

[DoctorNiCYDEn]

Shafi'i:

A menstruating woman may not enter the masjid nor touch the Mushar, nor recite the Qur'an*


*There are some cases where she may recite the Qur'an from memory


But it may also be worthwhile to note that most of the so-called "masjids" in the US actually do not meet the Shariah definition of a masjid, and as a result are actually Musallaa's. As far as I know, it is not forbidden for a menstruating woman to enter a musallaa.

[SiM7W2zi]

Shafi'i:

A menstruating woman may not enter the masjid nor touch the Mushar, nor recite the Qur'an*


*There are some cases where she may recite the Qur'an from memory


But it may also be worthwhile to note that most of the so-called "masjids" in the US actually do not meet the Shariah definition of a masjid, and as a result are actually Musallaa's. As far as I know, it is not forbidden for a menstruating woman to enter a musallaa.

W-Salam,

Jazakullah Khairun Brother...

I have lost your e-mail , do you mind dropping me a line again please?

http://www.central-mosque.com/

[dgdhgjjgj]

Br. Muadh

check this link as well :

http://www.al-inaam.com/fataawa/rest...men_menses.htm

P.S use IE to view the page for arabic

[SiM7W2zi]

Br. Muadh

check this link as well :

http://www.al-inaam.com/fataawa/rest...men_menses.htm

P.S use IE to view the page for arabic

W-Salam,

Article looks good, Masha'Allah but unable to view Arabic in IE 7 or in FireFox 2.0.

Are you guys not using uni-code fonts?

[dgdhgjjgj]

kindly check now and let me know if it works on both IE and Mozilla/Firefox

[attlawqa]

Asalamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullah,

Sorry to wake this thread up again, but I have a question. What about a Masjid that has an upper floor that looks like a prayer hall but in fact is used a lot of the time for study? I don't think many people pray there. I have been told even that it is okay to go there since it is seperate. Is this right?

Wasalam.

[hellencomstar]

But it may also be worthwhile to note that most of the so-called "masjids" in the US actually do not meet the Shariah definition of a masjid, and as a result are actually Musallaa's. As far as I know, it is not forbidden for a menstruating woman to enter a musallaa.

Huh, how is this exactly? I'm interested to know; what requirements are there for a masjid to be a masjid and not a musalla?

[Gogogo]

Huh, how is this exactly? I'm interested to know; what requirements are there for a masjid to be a masjid and not a musalla?

http://www.zamzamacademy.com/files/d...%20Musalla.pdf