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:

i never used to touch the quran while in mensuration. but last year i started taking quran classes where i learned that ablution is not absolutely compulsory to read the holy quran from the book itself (and not by reciting). we were told that ablution is compulsory for two things one is salaat and the other is tawaaf. however if a person does ablution before reciting the quran it would be better but do not refrain from reading the quran just because one in not in wudu.....ever since then i have become very regular with my quranic recitiation as i am not afraid of holding the holy book in my hand....(ie it has made quranic recitation more relaxed and anytime and anywhere routine)

secondly since we were students we had to come home and do some study from the quran. now many would be mensurating women in class....and because we did not want to stay behind in the class....this question was bought up in the class...our teacher explained to us logically that since mensuration no doubt according to Quran is pollution and hurt it is not in the hands of a woman to control this situation....how can a woman go without reading the quran for 1 day let alone 6-7 days in a stretch (and during this time if one does not read Quran one`s imaan plumbets since namaz is also not taking place)therefor it is recommended that women during mensuration should read the Quran even while taking in ones hand but should not touch the arabic text as the pure arabic text is sent by the Almightly Allah but the paper and the cover which v are holding is just paper...so women should refrain from touching the text and read quran as per routine.....ever since then i have read quran during mensuration whilst holding the holy book but being careful as not to touch the arabic text.....and i must say l love the feeling of reading during this time when i am feeling most down and depressed....it lifts me up.....

but we were told in our class that after sexual intercourse one cannot touch the quran before taking a ghusl...because this situation of impurity is in a person`s hand completely.....

pls shed some light on this matter.....

your sister in islam 

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Answer:

Menses women & Quran

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.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 56 Surah Waqiah verse 77-79:

That this is a Glorious Quran, inscribed in a well-guarded Book, which none can touch, except the purified.

Although the above aayah is meant to state how the Quran is honored by the noble angels in the heavens; the scholars have opined that just as the Quran is honored in the heavens by the angels, so should it be honored on the earth…. And thus, one should touch it only when one is pure and clean, and preferably when in the state of wudu.

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

They ask about the monthly periods (of the women). Say (O Prophet), “It is a state of impurity; so keep apart from the women during their monthly periods and do not go near them (sexual intercourse) until they are clean.”

To the best of our knowledge, we have not come across any authentic narrations of the Messenger of Allah (saws) where he (saws) explicitly forbade the menstruating women to touch the Holy Quran. All the scholars and major schools of thought in Islam are absolutely unanimous in their opinion that there is absolutely no harm for a woman, who is experiencing her menstrual period, to recite the Quran from memory, or make supplications, or praise and glorify her Lord Most High, Most Exalted.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 589 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

While the Messenger of Allah (saws) was in the mosque, he (saws) said: ‘O Aisha, get me that garment.’ She said: ‘I am menstruating.’ Upon this he (saws) remarked: ‘Your menstruation is not in your hand’, and she, therefore, got him that garment.

In light of the guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) some scholars have voiced their opinion on a menstruating women touching a copy of the Quran. But the vast majority of them have permitted the believing woman who are studying or memorizing the Quran, especially if she fears that she might forget what she has memorized or fall behind in her studies, to touch the Glorious Quran even in her menses, provided she wears gloves when touching it. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Your Question: but we were told in our class that after sexual intercourse one cannot touch the quran before taking a ghusl...because this situation of impurity is in a person`s hand completely.....

Hadrat Ali (r.a.) reports that: ‘Nothing would stop the Prophet (saws) from reciting the Qur'an except post-sex impurity.’

Related by Bukhari and Muslim.

Al-Muhajir ibn Qunfudh reports that the Messenger of Allah (saws) would refrain from ‘dhikr’ or the praising or extolling of the Lord Most High while in the state of post-sex impurity until he (saws) had performed the ‘ghusl’ or full bath of purification.

Related by Tirmidhi, Ibn Maajah, Nisai, and Abu Dawood.

In light of the above guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) the scholars of all the schools of thought are absolutely unanimous in their opinion that one should neither touch, nor recite the Glorious Quran when in the state of post-sex impurity until one has purified themselves with a ‘ghusl’ or full bath of purification.

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