Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

is it correct thatwhen we read various duas for the daparted soul, on daanas or tasbeh,a women who is having her menstrual cycle cannot touch the tasbeh etc 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Menstural woman cannot do tasbih

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 4005     Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said: ‘When one dies, all his acts come to an end except three, 1. recurring charity, 2. or knowledge (by which people) benefit, and 3. a pious offspring who prays for him (the deceased).’

In light of the above clear guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws), the believers are encouraged to make dua and supplication to Allah for the soul of their loved ones.  There is absolutely no evidence in the Quran or the Sunnah of the Prophet (saws) whereby he (saws) encouraged or endorsed or told the believers to make ‘tasbih’, or recite the Quran, etc. or any other kind or act of worship for the deceased.  Thus whatever act of worship is not endorsed or practiced by the Messenger of Allah (saws) is nothing but a self-invented innovation, and every innovation in the deen of Islam is an error.

Your Question: a women who is having her menstrual cycle cannot touch the tasbeh

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 222:

222    They ask thee (for a ruling, O Prophet (saws)) concerning women's courses.  Say: ‘They are a hurt and a pollution; so keep away from women in their courses and do not approach them until they are clean.  But when they have purified themselves ye may approach them in any manner time or place ordained for you by Allah.  For Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean.’

Umm Salamah related that the Prophet (saws) came to the mosque's courtyard and said at the top of his voice, "The mosque is off limits to menstruating women and the sexually impure persons."

Related by Ibn Majah and at-Tabarani.

Hadrat Aisha (r.a.), the mother of the faithful, said: "When we would have our menses during the lifetime of the Prophet (saws)we were ordered to make up the days of fasting that we had missed, but were not ordered to make up the prayers that we had missed.

In light of the guidance of the Quran the Sunnah, the things which are forbidden for a menstruating women are:

1. She must abstain from having sexual intercourse.
2. She cannot offer her prayers
3. She cannot perform a fast
4. She cannot enter any mosque
5. She must not touch the Glorious Quran

There is absolutely no restriction of the menstruation women if she wishes to make dua or supplication (with or without the use of rosary beads or ‘tasbih’) or remember and praise her Lord as much as she wishes.  

Other than touching the Glorious Quran, there is absolutely no restriction for a menstruating women touching or holding or carrying anything she wishes.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan