*FEMALE MONTHLY CYCLE AND WORSHIP*

We covered this matter in Sunday's class, but many more questions and concerns have been coming in,
warranting a more detailed exposition. Below, we list some of the implications of menstruation, and
thereafter we explore healthy approaches to these implication. This is important for both females and
males to read.

*Attitude to "falling out"*

A major aspect of being a _traveller_ on the Spiritual Way is surrendering to the will of Allah ‫ﷻ‬. Part of
this surrender is accepting the natural menstrual cycle. Sometimes it is not only the menstruating
person affected, but others around her too.

*Menstruation has a number of implications, including:*

*1. Ṣalāh not permitted*

- This may cause one to feel more distant from Allah ‫ﷻ‬, and therefore impact spiritual growth. When
one restarts ṣalāh, it may feel as though one has fallen behind from where one was spiritually just
before the period.

- The five-daily-prayers-routine is disrupted, leading to the feeling of not being grounded (one's routine
plays a major role in grounding one). One feels less organised and is often less productive. It may also be
challenging to return to ṣalāh once back "in".

- If one normally makes salah in jamā'at with another family member, it may impact that person too, as
group prayer can help with motivation and the maintenance of the ṣalāh routine. It may also be that the
family member is in a phase of being less spiritual or less motivated, and actually becomes less regular in
ṣalāh then.

*2. Fasting not permitted*

- There is the matter of spritual distance, as with ṣalāh.

- One may feel disconnected from other fasting persons, who all appear to have a positive affinity with
each other during the fasting month. One may even feel guilty or bad when consuming food.

- Ramaḍān is a month of intense reward, and one may fear losing out on this.

- In Ramaḍān, some report having feelings of inadequacy during their cycle.

*3. Quran limitations*

- Daily Quranic recitation is essential for the one who seeks Allah. Touching and reciting the Quran is not
permitted during one's cycle, having the potential to impact one's Quran activity.

*4. Sexual matters*

- A husband may not have sexual contact with his wife between her navel and knees during her period.
This may result in physical frustrations for both persons.

- Sexual intimacy routines are impacted which may affect relations even after the period.

- It may also result in emotional interpersonal issues, as sexual intimacy has a strong emotional aspect.

*Healthy approach and proper understanding*

*1. Ṣalāh*

- It is important that one remain close to one's routine, regardless of menstruation.

- While one cannot ṣalāh, scholars recommend to sit facing the qibla, at each of the 5 ṣalāh times, and
busy oneself with dhikr for a few minutes. This means that one may still uphold one's routine, and
maintain one's connection with Allah. It also means that the "ṣalāh connection" with one's family
members may be upheld.

*2. Fasting*

- Regarding spiritual distance, there are many other devotional activities that one could do during the
fasting day, and there is no reason for her to lose out on rewards or spirituality. A comprehensive list
can be found at: https://www.seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/worship-in-ramadan-for-
a-menstruating-woman/

- It is disadvised for a menstruating person to indulge in consuming luxuries or excessive eating during
the Ramaḍān day. By eating modestly and engaging in other worship, she may still have affinity with
other fasters.

*3. Quran*

- Not directly touching the Quran whilst being in an impure state is a form of honouring the musḥaf,
which is a symbol of Allah's Speech Attribute. One may indeed touch the Quran by means of a barrier,
such as gloves or a cloth.
- During menstruation one may not recite the Quran with the intention of articulating Divine Speech by
tilāwah, but one may certainly recite the Quran with the intention of remembrance, or revising one's
lesson for Quran class. There is therefore no reason to break one's connection with the Quran.

4. *Sexual matters*

- It is important to note that no sexual contact between navel and knees does not mean no sexual
contact per se. There many other forms of physical intimacy that the marital couple may partake in. This
will help keep routines going, and maintain intimacy levels between spouses.

*5. Niyyah*

- Scholars have indicated that if one has firm resolve to enact a worship, but by the will of Allah, one is
unable to do so, one may well receive the reward as though one did it. Thus, not being able to fast does
not automatically mean absence of reward.

- Willfully obeying Allah is in itself an act of worship. Scholars have said that when a menstruating
female, despite her desire to fast or ṣalāh, refrains from doing it with the niyyah of abiding by the
command of Allah, that she is actually performing worship, for which she is liable to earn reward.

*6. Discomfort/harm and forgiveness*

- Menstruation is recognised as being a discomfort and a "hurt". The prohibition of certain acts of
worship is therefore a mercy upon the person. It also validly excuses the person from certain sexual
matters which may be stressful at this time.

- It is well known that affliction and tribulation are means by which Allah ‫ ﷻ‬forgives. Insightful shaykhs
even say that when one supplicates for healing and ease, that one should intensify the seeking of
forgiveness, because more harship is generally related to more forgiveness, and less harship would
mean a greater need for repentance.

Abdurahman Dollie