Ruling on Menstruating Woman Staying in the Mosque

Question: Is it permissible for a menstruating woman to enter the mosque?

Response: It is permissible for her to do that based on negative and affirmative evidence. As regards the negative evidence, it is nonexistence of proof prohibiting her from entering the mosque. And this is in conformity with the basic principle that says: the basic principle regarding things is permissibility and the prohibition of something requires a specific proof. And there is absolutely no authentic hadeeth prohibiting a menstruating woman from entering the mosque.

With regard to the affirmative evidence, it is the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree in which she [reported that] she had her menses during the farewell pilgrimage when the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) stopped over at a place close to Makkah named Sarif. When the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) entered upon her, he found her weeping. Then he said to her: “What is the matter with you? Have you got your menses?” He (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “This is the thing Allaah has ordained for the daughters of Aadam. So do what all the pilgrims do with the exception of tawaaf (circumambulation) and Salaah.”

So this text indicates that it is permissible for a menstruating woman to enter the mosque, even the Sacred Mosque. This is because the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) permitted her to do what all the pilgrims do such as entering the mosque, performing tawaaf and Salaah. The pilgrims do all of that. As for her, she was exempted from performing tawaaf and Salaah from among that which the pilgrims do.

Hence, a menstruating woman can enter the mosque and recite the Qur’aan; and whoever claims otherwise must provide evidence prohibiting it and also establish that this prohibition came after the initial permission.

Source: Fataawaa Ash-Shaykh al-Albaanee fee al-Madeenah wal-Imaaraat, p. 69-70.