What Is the Ruling on Intercourse During Menstruation?
ما الحكم الشرعي في جماع المرأة في وقت حيضها؟
What is the legitimate ruling on a man having sexual relation with his wife at the time of her menstruation?
In Islamic law, it is strictly prohibited for a husband to have sexual intercourse with his wife during her menstrual period. This rule is established to prevent physical harm and discomfort. Sexual intercourse may resume after her menstrual bleeding ends and she has performed the ritual purifying bath.
The Quran addresses the natural cycles of women with profound respect, prioritizing their physical well being and comfort over marital intimacy during this specific time.
Is all physical contact forbidden during menstruation?
No. The prohibition applies strictly to sexual intercourse. Husbands and wives are fully permitted to show affection, cuddle, and sleep in the same bed. Islam explicitly rejects the practice of completely isolating a menstruating woman.
When exactly is it permissible to resume intercourse?
Intercourse becomes permissible after two conditions are met: the bleeding has completely stopped, and the wife has performed the ritual purifying bath (Ghusl).
What if intercourse happens by mistake or out of ignorance?
If it occurs out of true ignorance or genuine forgetfulness, there is no sin, but they must stop immediately upon realizing. If done intentionally, it is a sin that requires sincere repentance to Allah.
The Prohibition and its Reason
1. Preventing Harm
Menstruation is a harm (adha) for the woman, so the husband must not approach his menstruating wife for intercourse until her period ends and she purifies herself with the ritual bath.
2. The Quranic Command
(They ask you O Prophet about menstruation. Say, "Beware of its harm! So keep away, and do not have intercourse with your wives during their monthly cycles until they are purified. When they purify themselves, then you may approach them in the manner specified by Allah. Surely Allah loves those who always turn to Him in repentance and those who purify themselves.") Al Baqara 2:222.
Scholarly Insight: In Islamic Jurisprudence, the prohibition during menstruation specifically applies to sexual intercourse. Scholars unanimously agree, based on the authentic traditions of the Prophet Muhammad pbuh, that a husband and wife may still share the same bed, show affection, and enjoy physical closeness outside of the specific area of intercourse. This guidance observes the Quranic description of menstruation as harm or discomfort (adha), while preserving affection, shared meals, and companionship between the spouses. Islam firmly rejected the extreme practices of older traditions that completely shunned menstruating women or forced them to eat and sleep separately.
ما الحكم الشرعي في جماع المرأة في وقت حيضها؟
في الشريعة الإسلامية، يحرم تماماً على الزوج الجماع مع زوجته أثناء فترة الحيض. شُرع هذا الحكم لمنع الضرر الجسدي والأذى. ولا يجوز استئناف العلاقة الزوجية الكاملة إلا بعد انتهاء دورتها واغتسالها.
يتناول القرآن الكريم الدورة الطبيعية للمرأة باحترام بالغ، مقدماً سلامتها الجسدية وراحتها على العلاقة الزوجية خلال هذا الوقت المحدد.
التحريم وسببه
1. منع الأذى والضرر
الحيض فيه ضرر على المرأة لذا يجب على الزوج أن لا يقرب زوجته الحائض إلى أن تنتهي فترة الحيض وتغتسل (تتطهر).
2. الأمر القرآني
(وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْمَحِيضِ ۖ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًى فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاءَ فِي الْمَحِيضِ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ ۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ) البقرة: 222.
1. Explicit Quranic Prohibition of Intercourse | التحريم القرآني الصريح للجماع في المحيض
The Noble Quran delivers an unequivocal legal prohibition in Surah Al-Baqarah: "And they ask you about menstruation. Say, 'It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation and do not approach them until they are pure'" (2:222). Committing intercourse during this state is a major sin.
قُلْ هُوَ أَذًى فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاءَ فِي الْمَحِيضِ (سورة البقرة: 222)
حسم القرآن الكريم قضية الجماع وقت الحيض بحكم جازم لا يحتمل التأويل في سورة البقرة: {وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْمَحِيضِ ۖ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًى فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاءَ فِي الْمَحِيضِ} (سورة البقرة: 222)؛ فوصف الحيض بأنه أذى، وأمر باجتناب الجماع في الفرج حتى ينقطع الدم وتتطهر المرأة، مع بقاء المودة والمؤاكلة بين الزوجين.
2. The Moderate Prophetic Guidance: Affection Without Intercourse | الهدي النبوي المعتدل: "اصنعوا كل شيء إلا النكاح"
Anas reported that the Jews described in the narration did not eat with menstruating women or share their living quarters. The Prophet taught: "Do everything except intercourse" (Sahih Muslim 302). Affection and companionship remain lawful; the majority restrict direct intimate contact between the navel and knee during menstruation, while the Hanbali school permits contact short of vaginal intercourse.
اصْنَعُوا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا النِّكَاحَ (صحيح مسلم 302)
روى أنس أن اليهود المذكورين في الحديث كانوا لا يؤاكلون الحائض ولا يساكنونها؛ فقال النبي ﷺ: "اصنعوا كل شيء إلا النكاح" (صحيح مسلم 302). فالمؤاكلة والملاطفة والنوم في فراش واحد مباحة؛ ويمنع الجمهور المباشرة بلا حائل فيما بين السرة والركبة وقت الحيض، ويجيز الحنابلة الاستمتاع دون الجماع في الفرج.
3. The Prerequisite of Purification and Bathing | شرط انقطاع الدم والغسل لاستباحة الجماع
The Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali schools require cessation of menstrual bleeding and complete Ghusl (ritual bath) before intercourse. The Hanafi school allows an exception when bleeding ends at its maximum duration of ten days; when it ends earlier, additional conditions apply. The Quran commands: "And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allah has ordained for you" (2:222). If water is genuinely unavailable, Tayammum suffices.
فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ (سورة البقرة: 222)
يشترط المالكية والشافعية والحنابلة انقطاع دم الحيض والاغتسال لاستباحة الجماع؛ وعند الحنفية يجوز بعد انقطاعه عند أكثر مدته وهي عشرة أيام، وللانقطاع قبل ذلك شروط أخرى. قال تعالى: {فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ} (سورة البقرة: 222). فإن تعذر استعمال الماء بعذر شرعي قام التيمم مقام الغسل.
4. Expiation and Repentance for Violation | كفارة وطء الحائض والتوبة الصادقة
A husband who knowingly has intercourse during menstruation must sincerely repent. The Hanbali school also requires charity of one dinar or half a dinar, while the majority do not make this payment obligatory. Abu Dawud 264 records the report from Ibn Abbas; Al-Albani grades it sahih, while other hadith critics dispute its authenticity.
يَتَصَدَّقُ بِدِينَارٍ أَوْ نِصْفِ دِينَارٍ (سنن أبي داود 264، صححه الألباني، واختلف النقاد في صحته)
من جامع زوجته الحائضة عامدا عالما بالتحريم أثم ووجبت عليه التوبة والاستغفار. ويجب عند الحنابلة أن يتصدق بدينار أو نصف دينار، ولا يوجب الجمهور هذه الصدقة. ورد ذلك في حديث ابن عباس عند أبي داود 264، وصححه الألباني، واختلف النقاد في صحته.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Is sexual intercourse permitted during menstruation in Islam?
No, penetrative intercourse is strictly prohibited (Haram) by Surah Al-Baqarah (2:222).
Are affection and physical intimacy allowed during menstruation?
Yes, affection and companionship are permitted. The Prophet said: "Do everything except intercourse" (Sahih Muslim 302); permitted intimate contact differs by school.
Can a husband resume intercourse immediately when the blood stops?
No, according to the majority, she must first perform Ghusl after bleeding stops. The Hanafi school permits an exception when bleeding ends at its maximum of ten days, with further conditions for earlier cessation.
What did ancient traditions do to menstruating women before Islam?
Anas reported that the Jews described in the narration did not eat with menstruating women or share their living quarters. The Prophet permitted companionship while forbidding intercourse (Sahih Muslim 302).