Why intercourse during periods is halal: 4 best proofs
C.J Ahmed-26.02.2023
Having intercourse or in other words "sex" while menstruating is not haram in Islam. There is so much misinformation out there that is fed by half baked pseudo sheikhs who have brainwashed mostly the Muslim youth that if you masturbate your fasting is nullified. During the time of the prophet (Sal) and his companions, Islam was practiced in its purest form and the time of the companions and the righteous generations that followed after them are the best of generations.
These pious predecessors never made this religion hard. But unfortunately this is not the case when looking at the actions of the Muslims who are living in this era. The Muslims in this era are acting as if they are far more superior in knowledge than their companions. Their ultra-puritanical form of interpretations are based on judgments based either by deviated individuals like Ismail menk, Nouman ali khan and their likes or on the wrong fatwas (religious verdicts) of scholars of the Ahlus sunna wal Jama’ah (the group that hold upon the Sunnah or in other words those who are in the understanding of the salaf).
All of these arguments are stemming as a result of the ignorance of the Muslims and the widespread blind following of Madhhabs and individuals that is rampant among Muslims (this is not confined only among the Muslims). Below are the three main proofs proving that sex while menstruating is halal.
The other wrong notion that is prevalent among Muslims is that during Ramadan or during other voluntary fasts, if a person masturbates, his/her fast or in other words sawm will be invalidated (broken). Let me answer this wrong argument with the most authentic hadiths of the prophet(sal) and according to the understanding of the sahaba and the salaf-us-saliheen. The most important point to note is that there is no evidence from the Quran or the authentic Sunnah to prove that masturbation will break your sawm (Fast). Below are the five powerful proofs to prove why istimna while fasting is halal in Islam.
Proof-1
Aisha (rali) narrated,
“If one of us was menstruating, and Allah’s Messenger (Sal) wanted to touch us (Mubaasharah), he would command her to wrap a cloth around her area of menstruation, then touch her. She then said, and who amongst you is capable of controlling his desires [like him]?”
(Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim).
The meaning in this hadith for “Mubaasharah” is the same as quoted in the above hadith of Ahmed and Ibn Khuzaymah. The meaning for Mubaasharaah is not kissing. It is to touch. This is what was understood by the companions of the prophet (Sal) Like Aisha (Rali) and others.
Narrated by Aisha (Rali), “The prophet (Sal) would do Mubaasharaah (having sexual relations) when he was Fasting, and would place a cloth between him and her, meaning over the private part.”
(Reported by Ahmad and Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh. Its Isnad is Good (Jayyid)).
The above hadith is clear proof that the prophet (sal) used to have sexual relations with his wives when they were menstruating
Proof-2
The proof that sex is allowed during menstruating is in the below hadith when the prophet (sal) had sexual relations during fasting.In another hadith,
“He (the Prophet, Sallallaahu alayhi wa Sallam) used to kiss when fasting, touch when fasting, and was the most in control of his desires”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and others).
The above hadiths prove from the actions of the prophet (Sal) that having sexual relations is not even haram while fasting then how come it is haram during menses.
Proof-3
The word “Mubaasharaah” in these hadiths are used to interpret that the meaning is to kiss.
This is a false argument because this is not the meaning as explained in the below hadith.
“If one of us was menstruating, and Allah’s Messenger (Sal) wanted to touch us (Mubaasharah), he would command her to wrap a cloth around her area of menstruation, then touch her. She then said, and who amongst you is capable of controlling his desires [like him]?”
(Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim).
The meaning in this hadith for “Mubaasharah” is the same as quoted in the above hadith of Ahmed and Ibn Khuzaymah. The meaning for Mubaasharaah is not kissing. It is to touch. This is what was understood by the companions of the prophet (Sal) Like Aisha (Rali) and others.
Proof-4
The argument by many Muslims is that inserting the penis inside the vagina while the wife is menstruating is haram but under necessity it is halal In Islam, necessity dictates exceptions . According to the shariah, even the forbidden becomes halal due to necessity and if there is no transgression. Allah says in the Quran,
"And why should you not eat of that (meat) on which Allah’s Name has been pronounced (at the time of slaughtering the animal), while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity?”
(Al-Quran-6:119)
And
"He has only forbidden you carrion, blood, and swine, and that which has been consecrated to any other than Allah. But who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, it is no sin for him. For Allah is Forgiving, Compassionate."
(Al-Quran-2:173)
And again
“Whoever disbelieved in Allah after his belief, except him who is forced thereto and whose heart is at rest with Faith but such as open their breasts to disbelief, on them is wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a great torment”
(Al-Quran-16:106)
The above verses clearly explains that things which are haram becomes halal for a necessity If there is no transgression.
"Narrated Anas (rali):
The Prophet (sal) allowed `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf and Az-Zubair bin Al-`Awwam to wear silk because they were suffering from an itch" .
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
The Prophet (sal) said in a hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (rali):
"Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do."
(Ibn Majah- Graded Sahih by Albani in Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah and narrated by Baihaqi and others and graded Hasan Sahih by Albani )
It was narrated that ‘Amr Ibn al-‘Aas (Rali) said:
I experienced a wet dream on a cold night during the campaign of Dhaat al-Salaasil, and I was afraid that if I did Ghusl I would die, so I did tayammum, then I prayed Fajr with my companions. They mentioned that to the Prophet (Sal) and he said: “O ‘Amr, did you lead your companions in prayer when you were junub?” I told him what had kept me from doing ghusl and I said: “I heard Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): ‘And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allaah is Most Merciful to you’ [al-Nisa’ 4:29].” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) smiled and did not say anything.
(Abu Dawood- classed as Saheeh by Sheikh al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawud).
In the above hadith narrated in Abu Dawud, Amr bin al aas(Rsli) did tayammu instead of the obligatory bath you have to take if you are junub but the prophet (Sal) never found fault with him and just smiled and said nothing
Based on the above hadiths it is very clear that due to necessity, you can insert your penis inside the vagina while the woman is menstruating and actions are judged according to the intentions. Umar (rali) Narrated that the prophet (sal) said, "Actions are according to intentions"
(Bukhari and Muslim)
For example, If you fear that if you do not insert your penis inside the vagina of your menstruating wife, you will fall in to sin, then it is a vaid reason to engage in penetrative vaginal sex while the woman is menstruating.Islam is a flexible religion And Allah (Swt)says,"Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship"
(Al-Quran-2:185)
From the above proofs it is clear that sexual intercourse while menstruating is halal in Islam.
Having intercourse or in other words "sex" while menstruating is not haram in Islam. There is so much misinformation out there that is fed by half baked pseudo sheikhs who have brainwashed mostly the Muslim youth that if you masturbate your fasting is nullified. During the time of the prophet (Sal) and his companions, Islam was practiced in its purest form and the time of the companions and the righteous generations that followed after them are the best of generations.
These pious predecessors never made this religion hard. But unfortunately this is not the case when looking at the actions of the Muslims who are living in this era. The Muslims in this era are acting as if they are far more superior in knowledge than their companions. Their ultra-puritanical form of interpretations are based on judgments based either by deviated individuals like Ismail menk, Nouman ali khan and their likes or on the wrong fatwas (religious verdicts) of scholars of the Ahlus sunna wal Jama’ah (the group that hold upon the Sunnah or in other words those who are in the understanding of the salaf).
All of these arguments are stemming as a result of the ignorance of the Muslims and the widespread blind following of Madhhabs and individuals that is rampant among Muslims (this is not confined only among the Muslims). Below are the three main proofs proving that sex while menstruating is halal.
The other wrong notion that is prevalent among Muslims is that during Ramadan or during other voluntary fasts, if a person masturbates, his/her fast or in other words sawm will be invalidated (broken). Let me answer this wrong argument with the most authentic hadiths of the prophet(sal) and according to the understanding of the sahaba and the salaf-us-saliheen. The most important point to note is that there is no evidence from the Quran or the authentic Sunnah to prove that masturbation will break your sawm (Fast). Below are the five powerful proofs to prove why istimna while fasting is halal in Islam.
Proof-1
Aisha (rali) narrated,
“If one of us was menstruating, and Allah’s Messenger (Sal) wanted to touch us (Mubaasharah), he would command her to wrap a cloth around her area of menstruation, then touch her. She then said, and who amongst you is capable of controlling his desires [like him]?”
(Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim).
The meaning in this hadith for “Mubaasharah” is the same as quoted in the above hadith of Ahmed and Ibn Khuzaymah. The meaning for Mubaasharaah is not kissing. It is to touch. This is what was understood by the companions of the prophet (Sal) Like Aisha (Rali) and others.
Narrated by Aisha (Rali), “The prophet (Sal) would do Mubaasharaah (having sexual relations) when he was Fasting, and would place a cloth between him and her, meaning over the private part.”
(Reported by Ahmad and Ibn Khuzaymah in his Saheeh. Its Isnad is Good (Jayyid)).
The above hadith is clear proof that the prophet (sal) used to have sexual relations with his wives when they were menstruating
Proof-2
The proof that sex is allowed during menstruating is in the below hadith when the prophet (sal) had sexual relations during fasting.In another hadith,
“He (the Prophet, Sallallaahu alayhi wa Sallam) used to kiss when fasting, touch when fasting, and was the most in control of his desires”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and others).
The above hadiths prove from the actions of the prophet (Sal) that having sexual relations is not even haram while fasting then how come it is haram during menses.
Proof-3
The word “Mubaasharaah” in these hadiths are used to interpret that the meaning is to kiss.
This is a false argument because this is not the meaning as explained in the below hadith.
“If one of us was menstruating, and Allah’s Messenger (Sal) wanted to touch us (Mubaasharah), he would command her to wrap a cloth around her area of menstruation, then touch her. She then said, and who amongst you is capable of controlling his desires [like him]?”
(Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim).
The meaning in this hadith for “Mubaasharah” is the same as quoted in the above hadith of Ahmed and Ibn Khuzaymah. The meaning for Mubaasharaah is not kissing. It is to touch. This is what was understood by the companions of the prophet (Sal) Like Aisha (Rali) and others.
Proof-4
The argument by many Muslims is that inserting the penis inside the vagina while the wife is menstruating is haram but under necessity it is halal In Islam, necessity dictates exceptions . According to the shariah, even the forbidden becomes halal due to necessity and if there is no transgression. Allah says in the Quran,
"And why should you not eat of that (meat) on which Allah’s Name has been pronounced (at the time of slaughtering the animal), while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity?”
(Al-Quran-6:119)
And
"He has only forbidden you carrion, blood, and swine, and that which has been consecrated to any other than Allah. But who is driven by necessity, neither craving nor transgressing, it is no sin for him. For Allah is Forgiving, Compassionate."
(Al-Quran-2:173)
And again
“Whoever disbelieved in Allah after his belief, except him who is forced thereto and whose heart is at rest with Faith but such as open their breasts to disbelief, on them is wrath from Allah, and theirs will be a great torment”
(Al-Quran-16:106)
The above verses clearly explains that things which are haram becomes halal for a necessity If there is no transgression.
"Narrated Anas (rali):
The Prophet (sal) allowed `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf and Az-Zubair bin Al-`Awwam to wear silk because they were suffering from an itch" .
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
The Prophet (sal) said in a hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (rali):
"Allah has forgiven my nation for mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do."
(Ibn Majah- Graded Sahih by Albani in Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah and narrated by Baihaqi and others and graded Hasan Sahih by Albani )
It was narrated that ‘Amr Ibn al-‘Aas (Rali) said:
I experienced a wet dream on a cold night during the campaign of Dhaat al-Salaasil, and I was afraid that if I did Ghusl I would die, so I did tayammum, then I prayed Fajr with my companions. They mentioned that to the Prophet (Sal) and he said: “O ‘Amr, did you lead your companions in prayer when you were junub?” I told him what had kept me from doing ghusl and I said: “I heard Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): ‘And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allaah is Most Merciful to you’ [al-Nisa’ 4:29].” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) smiled and did not say anything.
(Abu Dawood- classed as Saheeh by Sheikh al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawud).
In the above hadith narrated in Abu Dawud, Amr bin al aas(Rsli) did tayammu instead of the obligatory bath you have to take if you are junub but the prophet (Sal) never found fault with him and just smiled and said nothing
Based on the above hadiths it is very clear that due to necessity, you can insert your penis inside the vagina while the woman is menstruating and actions are judged according to the intentions. Umar (rali) Narrated that the prophet (sal) said, "Actions are according to intentions"
(Bukhari and Muslim)
For example, If you fear that if you do not insert your penis inside the vagina of your menstruating wife, you will fall in to sin, then it is a vaid reason to engage in penetrative vaginal sex while the woman is menstruating.Islam is a flexible religion And Allah (Swt)says,"Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship"
(Al-Quran-2:185)
From the above proofs it is clear that sexual intercourse while menstruating is halal in Islam.