Understanding the Scholarly Opinions from All Four Schools of Thought
Reading the Quran is a deeply spiritual act—but what if a woman is on her period? Is she allowed to recite the Quran during this time? This question comes up a lot, especially for women who are students, teachers, or memorizing the Quran.
Let’s walk through what the scholars of Islam say, based on the four major schools of thought.
✅ If Her Period Has Ended, Can She Read the Quran?
Yes—if her period has ended and she is no longer menstruating, it is completely permissible for her to read the Quran as long as she is in a state of purity (not in a state of major ritual impurity known as janabah).
In this case, the ruling is the same for both men and women.
🚫 But What About During the Period Itself?
Here’s where it gets interesting. Each of the four major Islamic schools of thought (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali) has its own view.
Let’s break them down.
1. Hanafi School
Ruling: Not Allowed
According to the Hanafi scholars, a menstruating woman cannot recite any portion of the Quran—even less than a verse—with the intention of recitation.
They base this on the Hadith:
“لا تقرأ الحائض ولا الجنب شيئًا من القرآن”
“A menstruating woman and a person in a state of janabah should not recite anything from the Quran.”
—[Sunan al-Tirmidhi, graded weak]
Though the Hadith is considered weak by many scholars, the Hanafi opinion remains firm.
✅ However, she can still engage in:
- Saying “Alhamdulillah” or other praises not intended as Quranic recitation
- Dhikr, Tasbih (سبحان الله), Tahmid (الحمد لله), Tahlil (لا إله إلا الله)
- Reciting in her heart or listening to Quran
- Someone else reading aloud while she listens, especially if she’s memorizing and fears forgetting it
2. Maliki School
Ruling: Conditional Permission
The Malikis present two views:
- View 1 (Stricter): She cannot recite the Quran during menstruation.
- View 2 (Flexible): If she fears forgetting her memorized portion, she may recite the Quran, without touching the Mushaf.
They use a narration about Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her):
She would recite the Quran while someone else held the Mushaf for her.
They also argue that a menstruating woman is not like a person in janabah, since she can’t just take a bath and become pure. Some women may be in this state for 10 days or more.
✅ So, if needed, she can:
- Recite from memory
- Look at the Mushaf without touching it
- Ask someone to hold the Mushaf for her
3. Shafi’i School
Ruling: Not Allowed
This is the strictest school on this issue.
According to the Shafi’i scholars, a menstruating woman must not recite any verse of the Quran out loud. This view is backed by many early scholars:
Sayyiduna Umar, Ali, Jabir, Hasan al-Basri, and others agreed on this prohibition.
They argue:
- Fear of forgetting the Quran is not a strong excuse—menstruation usually lasts only a few days
- She can pass the verses over her heart, meaning she can think of the verses, but not recite
- She can look at the Mushaf but not touch or recite
Also, if she’s a teacher, she can delegate to another teacher or a student to read.
4. Hanbali School
Ruling: Not Allowed
The Hanbalis follow a general principle: Anyone who needs to perform Ghusl (major ritual bath) is not allowed to recite the Quran.
That includes:
- Those in janabah
- Women on their periods
They rely on the Hadith of Ali (may Allah be pleased with him):
The Prophet ﷺ would teach them Quran as long as he was not in a state of janabah.
“كان يُقرئنا القرآن ما لم يكن جنبًا”
—[Musnad Ahmad]
So by analogy, a menstruating woman is also prevented from reciting.
✅ However:
- She can recite in her heart
- She can look at the Mushaf
- She can say dhikr and phrases like SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, etc.
🌿 Final Thoughts
Islam values both purity and connection to the Quran. These rulings aren’t meant to restrict women—they’re meant to preserve the sanctity of the Quran while also offering flexibility when needed.
And remember, there is reward in intention. Even if you’re just listening or reviewing in your mind, you’re still staying connected to the Book of Allah.
💡 Want to Deepen Your Connection with the Quran?
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