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:

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

First of all I would like to thank you for providing us the information we require, May Allah reward you in Dunia and here after for answering all our questions in this forum.

My question is related to sex during menses

Alhamdulillah I am very well aware of the fact that having sex during menses is forbidden in Islam and I avoid doing it during this time. Alhamdulillah I married before 6 months ago and we are happy couple by the grace of Allah.

My Question is, if ones came to know that her menses cycle comes to an end in night (after 4 days), she is confident about that and she even took bath before sleep, on the same night she had intercourse with her husband. But immediately after sex, her menses started again with small amount of red discharge and last for 1 more day. So, intercourse is done confidently and purposely knowing that the menses were completely stopped. But actually it stopped for a day & started again for 1 day more. In other words, they were sure that menses are stopped completely then only they had sex.

Since the couple is very worried about this act which is not liked by Allah, they want to know what could be done to be forgiven by All Mighty Allah.

Please provide answer in the light of Quran & Hadith.

Thanks in advance

JazakAllah khair

(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:

Sex during menses and spotting

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 1.72

Topic: Women with Prolonged Flows of Blood

Shariah defines such an occurrence as the flowing of blood outside of the regular time. This usually happens in two specific cases. In the first case, the woman knows that her flow of menstrual blood is lasting longer than usual. In such a case, she will act according to her customary period, and the remainder will be considered days of prolonged blood flows. This is based on the hadith of Umm Salamah, in which she asked the Messenger of Allah (saws) about this condition. He (saws) said, "She should wait for the days and nights of her normal period and figure them out of the month, and she should leave the prayer during those days. (Afterwards) she should perform ghusl, tighten something around her vagina and then pray." (Related by Bukhari and Muslim)

Al-Khattabi holds, "That regulation is for the woman who is experiencing prolonged blood flows. If the blood is flowing, the Prophet (saws) ordered her to leave the prayer during her regular period, and to perform ghusl after her customary time has passed. Then, she becomes just like any other purified person."

In the second case, a woman has a regular period, but she is able to distinguish the blood. She should, therefore, behave according to the type of blood she sees. Fatimah bint Abu Hubaish had a prolonged flow of blood, and the Prophet (saws) told her, "If it is menstrual blood, it is dark and recognizable. If you have that, abstain from the prayer. If it is other than that, make ablution and pray, for it is a vein."

Every woman knows her customary days and period of menstruation; if the customary time period of menstruation has elapsed, she should perform the ‘ghusl’ to purify herself from her state of menstruation, and all the restrictions which were imposed during her period of menstruation would be deemed lifted…. if she finds a prolonged flow of blood or ‘spottings’ after her period of menstruation has elapsed, she should tie something around her private parts after her ‘ghusl’ and all the restrictions of menstruation would be deemed lifted.

Your Question: ….But actually it stopped for a day & started again for 1 day more. In other words, they were sure that menses are stopped completely then only they had sex. Since the couple is very worried about this act which is not liked by Allah, they want to know what could be done to be forgiven by All Mighty Allah.

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

222 They ask thee concerning women's (menstruation) courses. Say: ‘They are a hurt and a pollution; so keep away from women (sexual intercourse) 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

Respected sister in Islam, if you were absolutely confident that your menstruation period was over and you performed the ‘ghusl’ to purify yourself, rest assured that all the restrictions of menstruation were lifted and it would have been absolutely legal and lawful for you to enjoy your marital relations with your husband.

If after the menstruation period and your performance of your ‘ghusl’ you experienced or noticed blood-flow, rest assured it was mere spotting, which is only natural amongst some women, and not a continuation of your menstruation flow.

As long as you were confident that your menstruation period was over, and you performed the ‘ghusl’ to purify yourself from your state of menstruation, rest absolutely assured that all the restrictions of menstruation laid by Shariah were lifted, even if you happened to experience or notice spotting at a later date.

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