Menstruation, Sex, Personal Hygiene, and the Quran

"They ask you about menstruation: Say, it is harmful; you shall avoid sexual intercourse with the women during menstruation; do not approach them until they are rid of it. Once they are rid of it, you may have intercourse with them in the manner designed by God. God loves those who are clean. Your women are the bearers of your seed. Thus, you may enjoy this privilege however you like, so long as you maintain righteousness. You shall observe God, and know that you will meet Him. Give good news to the believers." 2:222, 223

As we know, many Islamic Scholars tend to abuse the meaningful verses of the Quran to benefit their own agendas. One of the abused verses that I would like to write about is verses 2:222-223.

First, let us tackle the misunderstanding of the Islamic scholars regarding these verses. They have innovated religious laws prohibiting menstruating women from observing the Contact prayers, fasting, and even touching the Quran. However, a careful study of these verses shows that God is teaching us about personal hygiene, and there is no law dealing with the religious practices in these verses.

As we know, menstruation is a feminine issue. Ironically, it is the men who ask about menstruation and the revelation is directed towards the men. Now, what could possibly concern a man regarding a feminine issue, except for his own interest in sexual matters? God answers the men by initially letting them know that having sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman is harmful, and they should not approach them until they get rid of it. The phrase "get rid of it" is "tatahharn" in Arabic which is the same word used in 3:55 when God tells Jesus: "I am terminating your life, raising you to Me, and ridding you of the disbelievers."

However, if this verse were referring to women's religious practices during menstruation, God would have directed the verse to the women. As it turns out, neither in this verse, nor in any other verse God forbids menstruating women from practicing their religious duties; it only refers to personal hygiene, and the statement of "your women are the bearers of your seed", in the following verse proves this fact. A man and his wife are allowed to have intercourse in the manner designed by God, which is vaginal intercourse.

The only way a woman can be "the bearer" of a man's seed is through the vagina to the uterus. By mentioning this statement, God is prohibiting non-vaginal intercourse. Therefore, the statement of "however you like" cannot be misconstrued.

Now let us look at the point of view of the opponents of religion.  Their view on this matter is that God humiliates the women by such statements. On the contrary, God is preventing men from viewing women as sexual objects and from sexually abusing women by commanding the men to have sexual intercourse with them in the manner designed by God.

It is noteworthy that the statement "as long as righteousness is maintained" is there to protect the woman. Please note that this verse does not only deals with the physical aspect, but also moral aspect which does not allow a man to abuse a woman by forcing her to have sex anytime without her consent. Also important is the fact that the statement of "maintaining righteousness" comes immediately after "however you like", to prevent physical and moral abuse.

God ordered the husband and wife to live in love mercy and tranquility 30:21. Therefore, when all activities in marriage are based on this statement, which is the source of righteousness between spouses, it's more likely to prevent any evil and vice in marriage.

We send down in the Quran healing and mercy for the believers. At the same time, it only increases the wickedness of the transgressors. 17:82

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Questions and answers about women, menstruation and rape:

Salamun Alaykum

<< 1) i do not agree regarding ok to pray/fast during menstruation. it is clear that after a 'discharge'/expulsion from particularly the nether regions of the body,one is in a state of uncleanliness with re to ritual prayer until one has performed ablution.>>

Answer:

Nowhere in the Quran does it say that women cannot fast, pray, or worship in any other way during their menstruation. This is an innovation. We have to know that any rule telling us NOT to worship God under this or the other circumstance must be from Satan, not from God. The only thing prohibited during menstruation is sexual intercourse as given in 2:222. But the ignorant use this verse to base this false idea about women not being able to pray or fast during menstruation. They claim that it says that women are unclean during menstruation, and therefore cannot be allowed to pray.

[2:222] They ask you about menstruation: say, "It is harmful; you shall avoid sexual intercourse with the women during menstruation; do not approach them until they are rid of it. Once they are rid of it, you may have intercourse with them in the manner designed by GOD. GOD loves the repenters, and He loves those who are clean."

As we see this verse does not prohibit a women from observing the religious duties during menstruation, but only restricts sexual intercourse during such times. The only circumstances that makes us unclean in the eyes of God, when it comes to performing the prayers are mentioned in 5:6 and 4:43. In none of these verses does it say that menstruation is one of these circumstances. All we have to do to clean ourselves for Salat, is to perform the Wudu. However there is an incorrect understanding that menstruation nullifies ablution. But this again does not have any support in Quran. There are two verses in Quran that tells us what nullifies ablution; 4:43 and 5:6.

[4:43] O you who believe, do not observe the Contact Prayers (Salat)  while intoxicated, so that you know what you are saying. Nor after sexual orgasm without bathing, unless you are on the road, traveling; if you are ill or traveling, or you had urinary or fecal-related excretion (such as gas), or contacted the women (sexually), and you cannot find water, you shall observe Tayammum (dry ablution) by touching clean dry soil, then wiping your faces and hands therewith. GOD is Pardoner, Forgiver.

[5:6] O you who believe, when you observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), you shall: (1) wash your faces, (2) wash your arms to the elbows, (3) wipe your heads, and (4) wash your feet to the ankles. If you were unclean due to sexual orgasm, you shall bathe. If you are ill, or traveling, or had any digestive excretion (urinary, fecal, or gas), or had (sexual) contact with the women, and you cannot find water, you shall observe the dry  ablution (Tayammum) by touching clean dry soil, then rubbing your faces and hands. GOD does not wish to make the religion difficult for you; He wishes to cleanse you and to perfect His blessing upon you, that you may be appreciative.

These verses that explain what nullifies ablution are applicable to both men and women. We learn from the above verses that the excretion should be both fecal related and a digestive excretion to nullify ablution.

Accordingly, menstruation does not nullify ablution. You ask yourself why can't you accept that women could observe her religious duties of praying or fasting, etc during menstruation. Is it God's laws that impose such prohibitions? Or is it a baseless prohibition instituted by religious scholars, erroneous religious laws inherited from our ancestors that has no Quranic back-up, etc. The answer you get will never have God's support. Women's menstruation is by God's design. Why should women be restricted from worshipping God during times which is exactly as designed by Him, for which she has no control?

<< where in the Quran does it forbid rape? what does it say about rape ?> >

Rape is one kind of oppression. God condemns oppression of any kind. God commands sexual intercourse only with one's spouse. We are commanded to maintain moral behaviour. God forbids adultery. God forbids prostitution and forgives the girls forced into committing prostitution. And all bad behavior is condemned. What more would anyone want? Imploring God for help is the best one can do for all problems.

Those who commit rape are violating God's laws and will therefore face the consequence therefore. They are not Submitters (Muslim in Arabic) A believer in God would know that God does not will anything bad to happen to us and when it does happen it is because of something wrong that we have done.

[4:147] What will GOD gain from punishing you, if you became appreciative and believed? GOD is Appreciative, Omniscient.

[4:79] Anything good that happens to you is from GOD, and anything bad that happens to you is from you. We have sent you as a messenger to the   people, and GOD suffices as witness.