QUESTION:
Salamu Alaikum Ya Sheikh. How can a menstruating woman observe Laylat al-Qadr?
Hassana Abubakar Sufi, Kaduna
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ANSWER:
Amin Alaikum Salaam Wa Rahamatullah. During their menses, women can read the Quran and make dhikr (remembrance of Allah) and duaa (supplication), though they are forbidden from fasting, performing prayer and touching the mushaf (copy of the Quran).
In this way, they still have the opportunity to observe Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power) by reciting the Quran and making dhikr.
A menstruating woman should not perform prayer nor touch the Quran, but she can make duaa (supplication) and share with other Muslims their prayer by watching and listening to TV channels or radio stations that broadcast Tarawih prayer live.
She can ask someone to put the mushaf on a table or a stand and read from it without touching it. She can take a cassette and listen to Quranic recitation.
Stressing the permissibility of a woman reciting the Quran in their menses, we would like to cite the fatwa issued by the Saudi House of Fatwa headed by the late Sheikh Abdul-Aziz Ibn Baz (may Allah bless his soul):
There is nothing wrong with a menstruating woman or a woman in post-natal bleeding to recite the Quran, because there is no clear-cut authentic Hadith that forbids them from doing so.
However, it is reported in an authentic Hadith that one who is in a state of impurity following sexual intercourse or wet dream, must not read the Quran while he or she is impure, according to the Hadith reported by Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him).
The hadith reported with regard to the menstruating woman and the one experiencing post-natal bleeding reads: “The menstruating woman and the one who is junub are not to read Quran”.
This hadith is reported by Ibn Umar, but it is weak, because the hadith was reported by Ismail Ibn Ayyash from the Hijaziyin, and he is famous for narrating weak hadiths from them.
However, such woman (in menstruation or post-natal bleeding) should not touch the mushaf; she can recite from her own memory [or from a copy of the Quran without touching it, as per the above opinion].
As for the junub, he or she is not to recite the Quran, whether from memory or from the mushaf, until he or she has performed ghusl (major bath).
The difference between them is that the time span for the one who is junub to have himself or herself purified is very short; he or she can do ghusl right away after lovemaking or wet dream.
The junub does not stay in this condition for long, and it is up to him/her when he/she wants to make ghusl; if he/she does not find water, he/she can do tayammum (dry ablution) and then he or she can pray and read the Quran.
But the woman in menses or in post-natal bleeding has no control over her situation – the matter is up to Allah the Almighty.
Therefore, it is permissible for them to recite the Quran so that they do not forget it and they do not miss learning the teachings of Shari`ah from the Book of Allah. If that is the case, then it should certainly be permissible for them to read books containing duaa that are mixed with verses and hadiths, etc. This is the view believed to be the most correct.
Finally, Sheikh Muhammad Iqbal Nadvi, Imam of Calgary Mosque, Alberta, Canada, and Former Professor at King Saud University, Riyad, Saudi Arabia, concludes:
A menstruating woman is not supposed to pray. She can do the following on Laylat al-Qadr:
Read as much as she can to increase her knowledge about Islam.
Make duaa and spend time making dhikr to Allah Almighty.
Listen to the Quran or read from her memory.
Watch Islamic programs or shows on TV or video to educate herself about Islam.
Attend religious classes to be always around the committed sisters.
And Allah knows best.