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.