Menstruation is a natural and recurring part of life for many Muslim women — and one that Islam acknowledges with clarity and compassion. But it also raises important questions: Can I still pray? Can I go to the mosque? What about touching the Quran?
This article walks through what scholars say about menstruation and worship — without shame, and with a focus on understanding how Islamic law treats this part of the female experience.
Islam doesn’t sideline you — it gives you a different path to stay spiritually connected during this time.
Do Women Pray During Menstruation?
No — women are not allowed to perform the five daily prayers (salah) while menstruating or experiencing postpartum bleeding.1
This isn’t just an exemption — it is a prohibition based on clear hadith and the consensus of scholars across all major madhhabs. Menstruation puts a temporary pause on certain forms of ritual worship that require a state of purity.
Do I need to make up those missed prayers?
No. Missed prayers during menstruation do not need to be made up — and should not be performed.
“Isn’t it true that a woman does not pray and does not fast on menstruating?”
— Sahih al-Bukhari, 19512
What About Fasting?
While prayer is not made up, missed fasts do need to be made up after Ramadan.3
- Women do not fast during their period.
- Missed days of obligatory fasting (e.g. during Ramadan) must be made up at a later time.
- This distinction between prayer and fasting is directly based on prophetic tradition.
Prophetic Basis
A well-known hadith narrated by Aisha explains this distinction clearly:
“We would menstruate during the time of the Messenger of Allah, then when we became pure we were ordered to make up the fasts but we were not ordered to make up the Salat [prayers].”
— Jami` at-Tirmidhi, 7874
This teaching reflects the mercy and practicality of Islamic law: daily prayers are frequent and would be burdensome to make up in bulk, while the fasts are fewer and easier to reschedule.
Reminder: If you miss fasts during Ramadan, it’s best to make them up as soon as possible — but there’s no sin if they’re delayed, as long as they are made up before the next Ramadan (according to most scholars).
Can Women Enter the Mosque While Menstruating?
This is an area of scholarly difference, and practices vary widely depending on local custom and interpretation.
Classical View: Not Permitted
- The majority of scholars hold that menstruating women should not enter the mosque.5
- This view is based on hadith and analogy to major ritual impurity (janabah), which also restricts mosque entry.
Supporting hadith:
“I do not make the mosque lawful for a menstruating woman and for a person who is sexually defiled [in a state of impurity].”
— Sunan Abi Dawud, 2326 (classified as weak, but acted upon by many scholars)
These scholars emphasize the sacredness and purity of the mosque space.
Permissible in Certain Conditions (Minority View)
Other scholars and contemporary voices allow women to enter the mosque while menstruating under specific conditions,7 such as:
- Attending educational programs or lectures
- Making dhikr (remembrance of Allah) without engaging in ritual prayer
- Ensuring cleanliness and not staining the prayer area
- Not sitting in the actual prayer space, in some views
Some also point out that women in the time of the Prophet (PBUH) participated in communal life, and there is no clear, authentic hadith forbidding mosque entry altogether.
In modern mosques, especially in the West, it’s common for menstruating women to attend lectures, study circles, or community events. It’s best to check with your local mosque or follow the opinion of a scholar you trust.
Can Women Read or Touch the Quran While Menstruating?
Touching a Physical Quran (Mushaf)
- It is not permissible for menstruating women, or anyone not in a state of purity, to touch a physical Arabic Quran (mushaf).
- This ruling is based on:
- Quran 56:79 — “None touch it except the purified”
- Hadith that emphasize ritual purity when handling the Quran
Some scholars allow handling the mushaf with a barrier (e.g. gloves, cloth), particularly for students or teachers who need access for learning.8
Phones, Tablets, and Recitation
- Most scholars permit reading Quran on digital devices (computers, tablets, phones), since they are not considered mushaf.9
- Reciting from memory, while an issue of dispute, is allowed and even encouraged during this time by some scholars if not doing so would interrupt memorization or learning.10
English or Non-Arabic Quran Translations
- Some scholars argue that only the Arabic text constitutes the Quran, while translations are considered interpretations.
- As such, touching a translated version (with no Arabic) is sometimes allowed during menstruation, especially for learning or reflection.11
- However, if the translation includes full Arabic text, it may still fall under the ruling for mushaf.
Tip: When in doubt, you can always recite from memory or listen to Quran recitation, which carries reward and keeps your connection strong.
What Worship Can You Do While Menstruating?
Menstruation shifts your worship routine — but it doesn’t disconnect you from Allah. You can still engage deeply in spiritual practices:
- ✨ Make dua (personal prayers)
- 🤲 Do dhikr (remembrance of Allah)
- 🕊️ Send salawat (blessings) on the Prophet (PBUH)
- 🎧 Listen to Quran recitation
- 📚 Read tafsir, hadith, or Islamic literature
- 📝 Reflect, set goals, and renew intention
- ❤️ Give charity or serve your community
You are no less spiritually capable — you’re just navigating a different season of connection.
Common Misconceptions
“Menstruation makes me spiritually impure or sinful.”
→ False. Menstruation is a state of ritual impurity, not moral impurity. It’s not a punishment or failure.
“I have to make up the prayers I missed.”
→ You don’t. Salah missed during menstruation is not made up — this is based on the Prophet’s (PBUH) teaching.
“I can’t do anything religious during my period.”
→ You can do so much. While certain forms of worship are paused, many others remain wide open to you.
Relevant Lectures on Menses in Islam
For those looking to explore the topic of menstruation in Islam further, here are some insightful lectures by respected scholars:
- Can A Woman Recite the Qur’an During Her Menses?
Speaker: Shaykh Dr. Yasir Qadhi
- Why Women Can’t Fast During Menstruation in Islam
Speaker: Dr. Haifaa Younis
- Is it Permissible for Women to Read the Quran during Menses?
Speaker: Dr. Zakir Naik
Remember, while different opinions exist on this and many other facets of Islam, it is generally good practice to consult with and follow the teachings of your local community scholars.
Final Thoughts
Islamic teachings on menstruation are not meant to restrict your spirituality — they’re meant to protect your well-being and reflect divine compassion. You are still close to Allah. You are still beloved. And you still have endless paths to remember Him.
Whether you’re actively praying or taking a pause, you are always welcome in the presence of your Lord.
💬 Comments
Have a different perspective or a follow-up question?
Share your thoughts below — respectful discussion is always welcome!
References
- Muhammad al-Munajjid, “Dos and Don’ts during Menstruation,” IslamQA.info, Fatwa #70438, 2006, https://islamqa.info/en/answers/70438/dos-and-donts-during-menstruation. ↩︎
- Muhammad al-Bukhari, Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1951, https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1951. ↩︎
- Muhammad al-Munajjid, IslamQA.info, Fatwa #70438. ↩︎
- Muhammad ibn Isa al-Tirmidhi, Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 787, https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:787. ↩︎
- Muhammad al-Munajjid, “Can Women Enter the Mosque During Menses?,” IslamQA.info, Fatwa #60213, 2005, https://islamqa.info/en/answers/60213/can-women-enter-the-mosque-during-menses. ↩︎
- Abu Dawood, Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 232, https://sunnah.com/abudawud:232. ↩︎
- Dar al-Ifta (Egypt), “Entering the mosque while in a state of menstruation or major ritual impurity,” Dar-AlIfta.org, Fatwa #10509, 2025, https://www.dar-alifta.org/en/fatwa/details/10509/entering-the-mosque-while-in-a-state-of-menstruation-or-major-ritual-impurity. ↩︎
- Muhammad al-Munajjid, “Is it permissible for a menstruating woman to hold the Mushaf with a barrier and perform ruqyah for herself?,” IslamQA.info, Fatwa #152742, 2012, https://islamqa.info/en/answers/152742/is-it-permissible-for-a-menstruating-woman-to-hold-the-mushaf-with-a-barrier-and-perform-ruqyah-for-herself. ↩︎
- “Reading Quran Without Wudu On Phone | Is It Permissible?,” Ulum Al-Azhar Academy, 2024, https://ulumalazhar.com/reading-quran-without-wudu-on-phone/. ↩︎
- Assim al-Hakeem, “Can woman in menses period offer prostration of recitation, gratitude & recite Quran,” assimalhakeem, YouTube video, 2023, https://youtu.be/ZIHm0yrYhec. ↩︎
- “Menstruating woman may touch Quran with translation or interpretation,” IslamWeb.net, Fatwa #91157, 2006, https://www.islamweb.net/en/fatwa/91157/menstruating-woman-may-touch-quran-with-translation-or-interpretation. ↩︎