I am unsure of why there is a commonly held belief that women should not pray (or are forbidden from doing so) while the body is in menses. I find no instruction given in the quran. Can anyone enlighten me on this?
The two sources of legislation for our faith, are the Qur'an and sunnah (as recorded in the authentic hadeeth). See the following hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him):
Narrated `Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
The Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to me, "Give up the prayer when your menses begin and when it has finished, wash the blood off your body (take a bath) and start praying
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، عَنْ زُهَيْرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا أَقْبَلَتِ الْحَيْضَةُ فَدَعِي الصَّلاَةَ، وَإِذَا أَدْبَرَتْ فَاغْسِلِي عَنْكِ الدَّمَ وَصَلِّي ".
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 331
In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 35
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 327
Stunningly beautiful adhaan from the Dome of the Rock in Masjid ul Aqsa Download (right click and choose "save target/link as").
This is a clear message for mankind in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is only One God, and that those of understanding may take heed (14:52)
Indeed Allah knows, and you know not (16: 74, part)
I am unsure of why there is a commonly held belief that women should not pray (or are forbidden from doing so) while the body is in menses. I find no instruction given in the quran. Can anyone enlighten me on this?
Assalaamu alaikum again, Eien,
You might like to search for yourself at www.searchtruth.com or at the link Insaanah posted (which is better! I am rubbing my hands with glee!!!- Thank you Insaanah, this link is very interesting!) There are also other ahadith that show that women don't pray the regular prayers during menses (you can make other prayers, dua's, though).
May He Bring you enjoyment in your search.
Last edited by MuslimInshallah; 09-15-2014 at 10:07 PM.
This site is very useful. You can see from the link which hadeeth collections it covers. It is run by the same people who run quran.com They're expanding the number of languages which are available too. You can search in English or Arabic text, and for each hadeeth, when you click on it, you get the Arabic text too, which I feel is really important, the chain of narration (usually fully only in the Arabic though), full reference in Arabic book and English book, and if there's any important point to note about the grading, they give you that too.
May Allah bless and reward their endeavours heavily in their scales of good deeds, and may it be a sadaqah jaariyah (continuing charity) for them, ameen.
Stunningly beautiful adhaan from the Dome of the Rock in Masjid ul Aqsa Download (right click and choose "save target/link as").
This is a clear message for mankind in order that they may be warned thereby, and that they may know that He is only One God, and that those of understanding may take heed (14:52)
Indeed Allah knows, and you know not (16: 74, part)
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