The Muslim
Woman’s Book
كتاب املرأة املسلمة – اللغة االجنليزية
Prepared by
Department of Foreigners’ Awareness at Az-Zulfy
إعداد
جمعية الدعوة واإلرشاد وتوعية الجاليات بالزلفي
ترجمة
أعده :مجعية الدعوة واإلرشاد وتوعية اجلاليات بالزلفي
الطبعة األوىل1442 / 7 :
شعبة توعية الجاليات بالزلفي 1437 ،هـ ح
فهرسة مكتبة الملك فهد الوطنية أثناء النشر
شعبة توعية الجاليات بالزلفي
كتاب المرأة المسلمة /انجليزي / .شعبة توعية الجاليات بالزلفي-.
الزلفي 1437 ،هـ
..ص ؛ ..سم
ردمك7 :ـ71ـ8013ـ603ـ978
أ.العنوان -1اإلسالم – مجموعات -2الوعظ واإلرشاد
1437 / 2086 ديوي 219.1
رقم اإليداع1437 / 2086 :
ردمك7 :ـ71ـ8013ـ603ـ978
The Muslim's Woman Book 3
Legal Rulings Regarding
the Muslim Women
Status of Women in Islam
Before talking about the rights of women in
Islam, we must unearth some attitudes of other
nations towards women and how they treated
them.
Women were merchandized during the Greek
epoch and they had no single right but men
reserved all rights. She was deprived of the
legacy or the right to discharge her wealth. Their
famous philosopher Socrates' said, “The
existence of women is the greatest cause and
source of collapse in the world. Verily, women
are similar to a poisoned tree where it appears
seemingly pretty, but when sparrows eat of it,
they die instantly.”
As for the Romans, they believed that women
were soulless and so they had no value, nor any
right according to them. Their slogan was
((Women have no souls)). That is why women
4 The Muslim's Woman Book
were being tortured by pouring boiling oil on
their bodies and fastening them to poles. They
used to fasten innocent women to the tails of
horses, which hasten with them at the highest
speed until they die.
This was also the view of Hindus about women.
Even more, they would burn a woman when her
husband dies.
Chinese likened women to the painful water that
washes away joy and wealth. A Chinese man had
the right to sell his wife or bury her alive.
As for the Jews, they considered women as a
curse because she misled Adam, luring him into
eating from the forbidden tree. They also deemed
her impure whenever she experiences menses,
when the house and whatever she touches
becomes impure. Moreover, she would not
inherit anything from her father if she had
brothers.
As for the Christians, they see her as a devil. One
of the Christian clergy even said, “Women are
not related to the human race.” Saint
The Muslim's Woman Book 5
Bonaventure said, “If you see a woman, do not
imagine that you have seen a human being nor
even a beast. You are indeed seeing a devil itself
and what you are hearing is the whistling of a
snake.”
According to the common English Law until last
century, women have remained uncounted
among citizens. They had no personal rights nor
do they have the rights to own anything even the
clothes they wear. The Scottish Parliament of
1567 passed a law that "Women should not be
granted authority over anything". Similarly, the
English Parliament during the Era of Henry the
8th, prohibited woman from reading the Bible,
because she is impure. In 586, the French
conducted a conference to research on whether
women are humans or not!? They concluded that
they are humans but they are created to serve
men. The English Law until 1805 permitted the
husband to sell out his wife and even specified
the price of the wife to be six pence (half a
Shilling).
As for the Arabs before the Era of Islam, women
were humiliated. She could not inherit nor was
6 The Muslim's Woman Book
she given any regard nor having any rights.
Many of them used to bury their daughters alive.
Then Islam emerged and got rid of all oppression
women were subjected to, and to confirm their
equality to men. They have rights just as men
have rights. Allah the Most High said,
َّاس إِنَّا خَ َل ْقنَاك ُْم ِم ْن َذك ٍَر َو ُأ ْن َثى َو َج َع ْلنَاك ُْم ُش ُعو ًبا
ُ َيا َأ ه َُّيا الن
ِ ِ ِ ِ
ٌ َو َق َبائ َل ل َت َع َار ُفوا إِ َّن َأك َْر َمك ُْم عنْدَ اهللِ َأ ْت َقاك ُْم إِ َّن اهللَ َعل
يم
]13:[احلجرات
ٌ َِخب
ي
“O mankind, indeed We have created you
from male and female and made you peoples
and tribes that you may know one another.
Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of
Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed,
Allah is All-Knowing and All-Aware.” [Al-
Hujurat: 13].
ات ِم ْن َذك ٍَر َأ ْو ُأ ْن َثى َو ُه َو ُم ْؤ ِم ٌن
ِ احل
ِ َ ومن يعم ْل ِمن الص
َّ َ ََْ ْ ََ
ِ َ اجلن ََّة و ََل ي ْظ َلم َ َف ُأو َلئِ َك َيدْ ُخ ُل
]124: [النساء يا ً ون نَق ُ ُ َ َ ون
“And whoever does righteous deeds, whether
male or female, while being a believer - those
The Muslim's Woman Book 7
will enter Paradise and will not be wronged,
[even as much as] the speck on a date seed.”
[An-Nisa: 124]
]8 [العنكبوت ان بِ َوالِدَ ْي ِه ُح ْسنًا ِ َو َو َّص ْينَا ا
َ إلن َْس
“And We have enjoined on man to be good
and dutiful to his parents.” [Al-'Ankaboot: 8]
The Messenger of Allah (May the blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him) said, “The most
perfect man in his faith among the believers is
the one whose behavior is most excellent; and
the best of you are those who are the best to
their wives in conduct.” [Transmitted by At-
Tirmidhi: 1082].
A man asked the Prophet (May the blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him), "O Allah's
Messenger! Who is more entitled to be treated
with the best Companionship by me?" The
Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allah
be upon him) said, "Your mother." The man
said, "Then who?" The Prophet said, "Your
mother." The man further said, "Then who?"
The Prophet (May the blessings and peace of
8 The Muslim's Woman Book
Allah be upon him) said, "Your mother." The
man asked for the fourth time, "Then who?" The
Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allah
be upon him) said, "Your father." [Agreed
upon: 5971, 2548]. This, in a nutshell, is the
Islamic viewpoint about women.
Common Rights of Women
The woman has common rights, which she ought
to know and should be recognized for her to get
them completely whenever she wishes. These
rights, in brief, are as follows:
1. Her right to possession: A woman can
own anything she wishes of real estates, lands,
industries, farms, gold, silver and various species
of sheep, whether she were a wife mother,
daughter, or sister.
2. Her right to matrimony, selecting the man
of her choice, dissolving marriage with ransom
(Al-Khul’) and divorce when she is being
oppressed. All these are rights established for the
woman.
3. Her right to an education in whatever is
obligatory upon her, such as having knowledge
about Allah, knowledge about acts of worship
The Muslim's Woman Book 9
and how they are performed, rights obligatory
upon her, necessary codes of conduct and
excellent morals that she must abide by. This is
based on the generality of the saying of Allah the
Most High,
]19 [حممد ُ اع َل ْم َأن َُّه ََل إِ َل َه إِ ََّل ا
هلل ْ َف
“So know that none has the right to be
worshipped but Allah.” [Muhammad: 19]
The Prophet (May the blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) said, “Seeking knowledge is
a duty upon every Muslim.” [Transmitted by Ibn
Majah: 220].
4. Her right to give from her wealth as
charity whatever she wishes and to spend
whatever she wishes of it on herself and on
whomever she wills including her husband,
children, father and mother, as long that she does
not attain the limit of squandering. In this, she is
just like the man.
5. Her right to love and hate. She may love
and visit righteous and pious women with the
consent of her husband if she is married, and she
10 The Muslim's Woman Book
can give them gifts. She may also send messages
to them and enquire about their conditions,
console them at times of distress. She may hate
immoral women and excommunicate them for
the sake of Allah the Most High.
6. Her right to make a will to bequeath one-
third of her wealth while alive and to execute this
will after her death, without opposition, because
a will is a common personal right. Just as men
have it, women also have it. No one is above
being in need of the reward of Allah.
Nonetheless, the will must not exceed one-third
of the wealth.
7. Her right to clothing. She has the right to
wear whatever she wills of silk and gold, which
are prohibited to men, but she would not be
nude, display her graces wantonly, by putting on
half-naked clothes or quarter of a cloth, or
uncover her head, neck, or chest except for
whom she can lawfully do that to.
8. Her right to adorn herself for her husband
by applying the eyeliner (Kuhl), applying the red
make-up on her cheeks and lips if she wills and
to wear nicer and most elegant suits and clothes
unless the clothes for which non-Muslim women
are known or by which prostitutes are identified.
The Muslim's Woman Book 11
She does not have to wear such clothes in order
to set herself aloof from the arena of distrust and
falsehood.
9. Her right to food and drinks. She can eat
and drink any lawful thing that is good and
pleasant. There is no disparity between her and
the man in food and drink. Whatever that has
been made lawful is for both men and women
and whatever has been prohibited is forbidden to
both of them alike. Allah the most High said,
ِ ِ ُْس ُفوا إِ َّنه ََل ُُيِب ا ُمل
ِ ْ اْش ُبوا َو ََل ت
]31:[األعراف ني
َ ْسف ْ ه ُ َ ْ َو ُك ُلوا َو
“O children of Adam, take your adornment at
every masjid, and eat and drink, but do not be
excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who are
excessive.” [Al-A'raf: 31]
This statement is general as it encompasses both
sexes.
12 The Muslim's Woman Book
Rights of the Woman on
Her Husband
Verily, among the special rights of a woman is
her right upon her husband. They are rights that
are due to her in exchange for certain rights she
must fulfill for the husband, such as obedience to
him in that which does not involve disobedience
to Allah and His Messenger (May the blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him), preparing his
food and drink, reforming his bed, breastfeeding
and nurturing his children, protecting his wealth
and integrity, preserving herself, and adorning
herself for him within the lawful limits and kinds
of adornments.
Here are some rights the woman owes to her
husband as Allah, the Most High, said:
ِ و ََُلن ِم ْث ُل ا َّل ِذي ع َلي ِهن بِا َملعر
وف
]228:[البقرة ُ ْ َّ ْ َ َّ َ
“And they (women) have rights (over their
husbands as regards living expenses, etc.)
similar (to those of their husbands) over them
(as regards obedience and respect, etc.) to
what is reasonable.” [Al-Baqarah: 228]
The Muslim's Woman Book 13
We shall state these rights so that the believing
woman may know them and demand them
without shame or fear. The husband has to fulfill
his wife’s rights completely unless she willingly
forfeits some of them, which she is free to do:
1. To spend on her according to his condition
(whether he is rich or poor). Expenses include
clothing, food, drink, medication, and
accommodation.
2. To protect her in her honor, body, wealth
and religion because the man is in charge of her
and part of the obligation on the one in-charge of
something is to protect and maintain it.
3. To educate her on the necessary aspects of
her religion. However, if he cannot do that, he
should permit her to learn by attending women
learning sessions in the mosques or schools or
other places if she is safe from temptation or the
harm this may cause to her or him.
4. To live with them on a footing of kindness
and equity according to what Allah has said,
ِ اشو رهن بِاملعرو
ف ِ
]19 [النساء ر وع ر
“And live with them in kindness.” [An-Nisa: 19]
14 The Muslim's Woman Book
It is part of good and kind living to avoid
usurping her right in bed or harming her by
insults and verbal abuse or contempt and
humiliation. It is part of kind living not to
prevent her from visiting her relations if he does
not fear some temptation for her, to avoid
assigning her to do what she cannot do, and to be
kind to her in words and action due to the saying
of the messenger of Allah (May the blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him), ((The best of you is
the one who is best to his wife, and I am the best
of you to my wives.” [Transmitted by At-
Tirmidhi: 3830]
The Muslim's Woman Book 15
The Veil (Hijab)
Islam has been keen on preserving and protecting
the family from disintegration and damage. Thus
it surrounded it by a sturdy fortress of sound
characteristics and noble manners, in order for
the souls and the society to remain sound and
pure where no desires are being aroused nor
natural instincts are being irritated. It has set
barriers to prevent provocations, which call for
rabble-rousing and so it commanded lowering of
the gaze for both men and women.
Allah has legislated the veil for the woman as a
token of honor for her and protection for her
integrity from being desecrated and abused and
to set her aloof from being exposed to botchers
and owners of sick souls and to protect her from
those who recognize no value nor weight for
virtue and to close the gate of sedition that is
caused by poisoned gaze and to enclose the
woman's integrity and diffidence in a siege of
respect and regard.
16 The Muslim's Woman Book
Learned scholars of Islam have unanimously
agreed on the obligation of hijab upon the
woman, and that she must cover herself, and
should not display her adornments and graces
before strangers and alien people. However, they
differ regarding the face and palms up to the
elbows. There are several textual evidences on
the veil and its obligation, and each group of
scholars cited part of them and redirected the
implications of those evidences it deems
opposing to its viewpoint in different ways.
However, the textual evidences regarding the
obligation of the veil include:
اب َذلِك ُْم َأ ْط َه ُر
ٍ اء ِح َج
ِ وإِ َذا س َأ ْلتُموهن متَاعا َفاس َأ ُلوهن ِمن ور
َ َ ْ َّ ُ ْ ً َ َّ ُ ُ َ َ
ِ لِ ُق ُلوبِك ُْم َو ُق ُل
َّ ِوِب
]53: [األحزاب ن
“And when you ask (the wives of the Prophet)
for anything you want, ask them from behind
a screen, that is purer for your hearts and for
their hearts.” [Al-Ahzab: 53]
The Muslim's Woman Book 17
َ ِني ُيدْ ن
ني َع َل ْي ِه َّن َ ِ اء ا ُمل ْؤ ِمن
ِ اج َك وبنَاتِ َك ونِس
َ َ
ِ
َ َ ِ َيا َأ ه َُّيا النَّبِ هي ُق ْل ألَزْ َو
وراً َان اهللُ غَ ُف َ ِم ْن َج ََلبِيبِ ِه َّن َذلِ َك َأ ْدنَى َأ ْن ُي ْع َر ْف َن َف ََل ُي ْؤ َذ ْي َن َوك
]59: [األحزاب َرحيم
ِ
ً
“O Prophet! Tell your wives and your
daughters and the women of the believers to
draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies.
That will be better, that they should be known
(as such) and not molested. And Allah is Ever
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Al-Ahzab: 59]
وج ُه َّن َو ََل ِ ِ َات يغ ُْض ْضن ِمن َأبص ِ ِ ِ
َ ُي َف ْظ َن ُف ُر
ْ َ اره َّن َو َ ْ ْ َ َ َو ُق ْل ل ْل ُم ْؤمن
ِ ْض ْب َن بِ ُخ ُم ِر ِه َّن َع ََل ُج ُي
وِبِ َّن ِ ْ ين ِزينَت َُه َّن إِ ََّل َما َظ َه َر ِمن َْها َو ْل َي ِ
َ ُي ْبد
ِ ِ ِ
]31: [النور ... ن َّ ين ِزي َنت َُه َّن إِ ََّل ل ُب ُعو َلت ِه
َ َو ََل ُي ْبد
“And tell the believing women to lower their
gaze and be modest, and to display of their
adornment only that which is apparent, and to
draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to
reveal their adornment save to their own
husbands…”[An-Nur: 31]
18 The Muslim's Woman Book
Evidences from the prophetic tradition (Sunnah)
include what ‘Aisha the wife of the Prophet
(May Allah be pleased with her) narrated that,
“The believing women, covered with their veiling
sheets, used to attend the Fajr prayer with
Allah's Messenger, and after finishing the prayer
they would return to their homes, and nobody
could recognize them because of darkness.”
[Agreed upon: 578, 645]
She also reported, “Riders would pass us when
we accompanied the Messenger of Allah (May
the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
while we were in ihram. When they came by us,
one of us would let down her outer garment from
her head over her face, and when they had
passed on, we would uncover our faces.
[Transmitted by Abu Dawud and Ahmad: 1562,
22896].
She also narrated: "May Allah bestow His Mercy
on the early emigrant women. When Allah
revealed:
ِ ْض ْب َن بِ ُخ ُم ِر ِه َّن َع ََل ُج ُي
وِبِ َّن ِ ْ َو ْل َي
The Muslim's Woman Book 19
"... and to draw their veils all over their
bosoms..." (Surah An-Nur: 31) They tore their
Murut (woolen dresses or waist-binding clothes
or aprons etc.) and covered their heads and faces
with those torn Muruts". [Transmitted by Al-
Bukhari]
Evidences to this effect are ample. Despite the
controversy over the question of the veil, they all
agreed that a woman is permitted to uncover her
face for some necessity, like when she is sick and
needs to meet the doctor. In addition, they all
agreed that it is not lawful to uncover her face
when there is fear of sedition, which is
something even those that allowed her to
uncover the face at normal circumstances, make
obligatory when there is fear of sedition. How
strong is the fear of sedition at this period in
which corruption has been taken to high heavens
and many of those women that unveil their faces
apply adornments to them. This is something that
has been unanimously prohibited.
Islam forbids women and men to intermingle to
protect morals, families and integrity. Islam is
keen on the prevention of temptation and
seduction. Intermingling between women and
20 The Muslim's Woman Book
men, especially when the women are improperly
dressed, agitates lustful desires, facilitates the
means to crime, and makes it easy to approach.
Allah the Most High said,
]33 [األحزاب اهلِ َّي ِة األُ ْو َل
ِ اجل
َ ََب َج ِ ِ
َّ َ َو َق ْر َن ِف ُب ُيوتك َُّن َو ََل ت
ََب ْج َن ت َ ه
“And abide in your houses and do not display
yourselves as [was] the display of the former
times of ignorance.” [Al-Ahzab: 33].
He said also,
اب َذلِك ُْم َأ ْط َه ُر
ٍ اء ِح َج
ِ وإِ َذا س َأ ْلتُموهن متَاعا َفاس َأ ُلوهن ِمن ور
َ َ ْ َّ ُ ْ ً َ َّ ُ ُ َ َ
ِ لِ ُق ُلوبِك ُْم َو ُق ُل
َّ ِوِب
]53: [األحزاب ن
“And when you ask (the wives of the Prophet)
for anything you want, ask them from behind
a screen; that is purer for your hearts and for
their hearts.” [Al-Ahzab: 53].
Furthermore, the Messenger of Allah has
vehemently forbidden intermingling of men with
women and prohibited everything that tends to
lead to it, even in the area and arenas of worship.
The Muslim's Woman Book 21
A woman may be compelled by circumstances to
leave her house to a place where men are, like
when she intends to meet some of her needs,
whereas she has no one to do that for her, or to
buy and sell to earn a living for herself or for
someone she sustains, and other necessities.
There is no problem with such outings, but she
must consider the limits set by the Shari'ah by
going out properly covered, without displaying
her beauty and to separate herself from men as
much as possible.
The legislations Islam set to protect the family
and morals include the prohibition of seclusion
with a non-mahram woman. The Messenger of
Allah (may the blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) has indeed stressed the prohibition of
seclusion with a woman who is not mahram –
when she is not in the company of her husband
or a mahram – because the devil is eager to
corrupt the souls and morals.
22 The Muslim's Woman Book
Legal Rulings on
Menstruation and
Post-Partum Bleeding
Time and Duration of Menstruation
1. Menstruation usually begins at the age of
twelve and stops by the age of fifty. However, a
female may even experience it before or after
this age according to her condition and
environment.
2. The minimum period of menstruation is
one day, while the maximum period is fifteen
days.
Menstruation of the pregnant
woman
When a woman is pregnant, she is most likely
not to menstruate. However, if she notices the
bloodflow shortly before childbirth, by two or
three days, with throes of childbirth, that should
be post-natal bleeding. If that happens long
before childbirth or shortly before it without
The Muslim's Woman Book 23
labour pains, then that blood is neither post-natal
bleeding nor menstruation.
Abnormal Cases of Menstruation
Abnormal cases of menstruation are of different
kinds:
First: Rise or fall in menses like when a
woman’s normal period of menstruation is six
days but the blood continues to flow up to the
seventh day or when her period is seven but she
attains purity on the sixth day.
Second: Advancement or delay like when her
normal period is at the end of the month but
notices menstruation at the beginning or when
the normal period is at the beginning but she
experiences it at the end of the month. Whenever
she notices the usual blood with its known
description, she is considered menstruating and
whenever she attains purity, she is considered
pure, whether her period increases or decreases,
or advances or is delayed.
24 The Muslim's Woman Book
Third: Yellow or brown discharge, whereby she
notices the blood as yellowish, similar to fluids
emitted by wounds, or brownish between a
yellow and a dark color. If this occurs during the
period of menstruation or follows it before the
attainment of purity, it is considered as menses
and shall be given the rulings regarding
menstruation. However, if it occurs after the
attainment of purity, it is not menses.
Fourth: Irregularity in menstruation, where she
notices blood sometimes and dryness at other
times, etc. These are two conditions:
One: When this is persistent and
permanent with a woman. That is called
istihada, which is false menstruation and
the rules of false menstruation shall be
applied to any woman that experiences
this.
Two: When it is not persistent, but comes
at times, and after that she experiences a
period of absolute purity. Whenever the
termination of blood flow occurs in less
than one day, it is not an indication of
The Muslim's Woman Book 25
having attained the state of purity.
Termination of blood flow for less than a
day shall not be considered as a state of
purity unless she notices some indications
such as when the termination occurs at the
end of her normal period or notices the
clear discharge when menstruation is over.
Fifth: Dryness, where the woman experiences
ordinary moisture. If this occurs during
menstruation or is concomitant with it before the
state of purity, then it is menses but if it occurs
after the state of purity, it is not menses.
26 The Muslim's Woman Book
Rulings Regarding Menstruation
First: Prayer (Salaah): Both obligatory and
supererogatory prayers are prohibited and not
acceptable from the menstruating woman. Prayer
is not obligatory on her in this state except if she
is able to catch up with about one full rak’ah
from the time of prayer before menstruation
begins or terminates. In this case, that prayer
becomes compulsory on her notwithstanding if
she caught up with it at the beginning or the end
of the appointed time for that prayer. An instance
of catching up with the prayer at the beginning of
its appointed time: A woman menstruates after
sunset by a period of about one rak’ah. Upon
attaining the state of purity, she should pay for
the Maghrib prayer because she caught up with it
by a period of one rak’ah before her menses
began. An instance of catching the prayer at the
end of its appointed time is a woman who
attained the state of purity after menstruation
before sunrise by a period of one rak'ah. When
she has taken the ritual bath, she must make up
Fajr prayer because she caught it by a period
adequate to observe one rak'ah.
The Muslim's Woman Book 27
Activities involving the remembrance of Allah
such as dhikr, takbeer (to say Allahu Akbar),
tasbeeh (to say Subhanallah), tahmeed (to say
Alhamdulillah) and pronouncing the Name of
Allah upon eating and at other affairs, recitation
of the Holy Qur'an, reading Hadith, making
invocation and saying amen to invocation,
listening to the Holy Qur’an recitation, are not
prohibited to the menstruating woman. She may
recite the Holy Qur’an from memory without
touching a copy of it. Nevertheless, there is no
problem if she needs to use the copy of the
Qur’an for revision or correcting mistakes, or the
like but that must be by means of a barrier like
hand gloves or so.
Second: Fasting. A menstruating woman is
prohibited to observe neither the obligatory nor
the supererogatory fast and it is not acceptable
from her either. However, she should make up
for the obligatory fast. If she menstruates while
fasting, the fast is void even though that occurred
a moment to sunset. She should make up for that
day if the fast is an obligatory one. Although, if
she feels the movement of blood before sunset
but it did not discharge except after sunset, her
28 The Muslim's Woman Book
fast is perfect and not void. When the day breaks
and she menstruates, fasting of that day would
not be acceptable from her even if she attained
purity a moment after dawn. If she attains purity
shortly before dawn and fasts, her fast would be
acceptable even though she did not take the ritual
bath until after dawn.
Third: Circumambulating the Ka’bah (Tawaaf).
It is prohibited for her to circumambulate the
Ka’bah, be it the obligatory or optional Tawaaf
and, if she does so, it would not be acceptable.
As regards other ceremonies like (Sa’y)
hastening between mounts Safa and Marwah,
staying at Arafah, passing the night at
Muzdalifah and Mina, casting the pebbles and
other rituals of Hajj and Umrah, they are not
prohibited to her. Accordingly, if she performs
Tawaaf while she is in the state of purity and
then discharges menstruation blood immediately
after the Tawaaf or during Sa’y, there will be no
qualms.
Fourth: Staying in the mosque. A menstruating
woman is forbidden to stay in the mosque.
The Muslim's Woman Book 29
Fifth: Sexual intercourse. It is prohibited for her
husband to have sexual intercourse with her and
she should not allow him to do so. However, it is
permissible for him, and to Allah belongs all
praise, to do other activities such as kissing,
hugging and fondling that can curb his sexual
urge without intercourse.
Sixth: Divorce. It is prohibited for her husband
to divorce her in the state of menstruation but if
he does, he has disobeyed Allah and His
messenger (May the blessings and peace of Allah
be upon him) and perpetrated a sin. Therefore, he
must revoke the divorce and keep her until she
attains the state of purity, after which he can
divorce her if he so wills. However, it is
preferable for him to leave her to menstruate for
a second time and attain the state of purity after
which he is free to keep or divorce her if he so
wills.
Seventh: Obligation of the ritual bath. A
menstruating woman upon attainment of the state
of purity is obliged to take a ritual bath by
purifying all her body. It is not compulsory to
unfasten the hair on her head except if it is
30 The Muslim's Woman Book
strongly tied in a manner that water is not likely
to reach to its roots. When the menstruating
woman attains the state of purity during the time
of prayer, she must hurry to take the ritual bath
to get the performance of that prayer on time. If
she is on journey and has no water or if she does
but nurses some harm from using it or she is sick
and water might cause harm to her, then she
should perform dry or alternative ablution
(Tayammum) in lieu of taking the ritual bath until
the impediment is over and then takes bath.
The Muslim's Woman Book 31
False Menstruation
and its Rulings
Al-Istihadwah or false menstruation is the
persistent and continuous flow of blood from a
woman. It may stop for some time like a day or
two in a month. Others said that any blood
discharge for a period longer than fifteen days is
considered false menstruation except when it is
her normal menstrual period.
A woman undergoing false menstruation has
three conditions:
First: A woman who has a known menstrual
cycle followed by istihada. She should observe
the rulings of menstruation during the normal
length of her period. Any blood after that should
be considered istihada and given its rulings.
Instance of this: A woman used to menstruate for
six days at the beginning of every month and
suddenly she experienced persistent flow of
blood (Istihadwah). Such shall observe six days
at the beginning of every month as her menstrual
32 The Muslim's Woman Book
period while the additional period shall be
considered false menstruation. Based on this, a
woman having a fixed and known menstrual
period but experiences false menstruation shall
observe the period of her normal menses, then
take bath, and begin to pray not minding the
blood even if it continues to flow.
Second: One not having a known menstrual
period before the occurrence of false
menstruation because flow of blood has been
persistent with her right from the first day she
experiences it. Such should differentiate between
the kind and description of blood that flows. Her
menstrual flow shall be that which is
distinguished by black colour, or thickness or
odour and it shall be given the rules of
menstruation, while whatever is beyond that
shall be deemed false menstruation and given its
rulings.
Instance of this: A woman notices the blood flow
at the first instance and it is persistent and she
can differentiate the type of flow by noticing it to
be black for the first ten days and red for the rest
part of the month or she notices that it is thick for
The Muslim's Woman Book 33
the first ten days and light for the rest or having
menstrual odor for the first ten days and odorless
for the remaining days of the month. In this case,
her menses is the black flow is in the first case,
or thick flow in the second case and having
odour in the third and whatever is beyond that is
false menstruation.
Third: One who has no known menstrual period
nor sound differentiation by undergoing
persistent discharge of blood right from the first
instance and her blood maintains one condition
or has varying and unsteady descriptions, which
cannot be seen to be menstrual discharge. Such
should take to the menstrual period of majority
of women, which is six or seven days in every
month, beginning from the period she notices the
blood for the first time. Whatever is beyond that
length of time is false menstruation.
34 The Muslim's Woman Book
Rulings of False Menstruation
Rulings of false menstruation are same as the
rulings regarding the attainment of the state of
purity after menstruation. There is no disparity
between a woman undergoing false menstruation
and those in a state of purity except for the
following:
First: Ablution is obligatory upon her for every
prayer.
Second: Whenever she intends to perform
ablution, she must wash away the effects of
blood and fasten a piece of cotton rag to her
private part to prevent the blood from flowing
out.
The Muslim's Woman Book 35
Postpartum Bleeding
and its Rulings
Postpartum bleeding is the blood discharged as a
result of childbirth; either along with it, or after
it, or two or three days prior to it with labor pains
(contractions). A woman attains the state of
purity whenever the bloody discharge stops.
However, if it persists for over forty days, she
should take the ritual bath (ghusl) after the
fortieth day because that is the maximum period
for postpartum bleeding; even if the blood
continues to flow, unless the discharge after the
fortieth day is menstrual discharge. Then she
should observe the period until she attains a state
of purity, and then make ghusl. Postpartum
bleeding is only confirmed when a woman gives
birth to something that looks like human. Hence,
if she delivers a little miscarriage that does not
appear to be human, her blood shall not be
deemed as post-natal bleeding. Rather, it is blood
that came from the veins (false menstruation)
and shall take the ruling of false menstruation.
The minimum period in which a human form can
36 The Muslim's Woman Book
be verified is eighty days starting from the
pregnancy and the maximum is ninety days.
The rulings regarding post-natal bleeding are
same as those stated under menstruation.
The Muslim's Woman Book 37
Menstruation and Pregnancy
Contraceptives
It is allowed for a woman to use contraceptives
to hinder her menses but with two conditions:
First: There should be no fear of harm
happening to her. If there is, then it is not
permissible to use the contraceptives.
Second: That should be in line with the
permission of the husband if he is related to it.
Permissibility of menstruation inducement pills
is based on two requisites:
One: Permission of the husband.
Two: She should not use them as a means of
avoiding an obligation; like when she uses them
to avoid fasting or prayer and the like.
Using contraceptives to avoid pregnancy is of
two kinds:
38 The Muslim's Woman Book
First: To use them to prevent pregnancy
permanently. This is not permissible.
Second: To use them to prevent pregnancy
temporarily; such as if a woman gets pregnant
easily and the pregnancy weakens her. It is
permissible in this case if her husband allows it,
and it does not cause her any harm.
The Muslim's Woman Book 39
Table of Contents
Topic Page
Status of Women in Islam 3
Common Rights of Women 8
Rights of the Woman on Her Husband 12
The Veil (Hijab) 15
Legal Rulings on Menstruation and 22
Post-Partum Bleeding
Time and Duration of Menstruation 22
Menstruation of the pregnant woman 22
Abnormal Cases of Menstruation 23
Rulings Regarding Menstruation 26
False Menstruation and its Rulings 31
Rulings of False Menstruation 34
Postpartum Bleeding and its Rulings 35
Menstruation and Pregnancy 37
Contraceptives
