Engaging in sexual intercourse with...

Egypt's Dar Al-Ifta

Engaging in sexual intercourse with a wife after the end of her menstrual period and before washing

Question

Is it permissible for a man to engage in sexual intercourse with his wife after her period ends and before washing?

Answer


It is not permissible for a man to engage in sexual intercourse with his wife until she purifies herself from menstruation i.e. her bleeding stops and she washes herself. This is because God has set down the two conditions of cessation of menstrual blood flow and washing for the permissibility of engaging in sexual intercourse. He says, “They ask thee concerning women’s courses. Say: They are a hurt and a pollution: So keep away from women in their courses, and do not approach them until they are clean” [2: 222]. This means that God has made sexual intercourse contingent upon purification i.e. washing.

Maliki scholars have maintained that tayamum (dry ablution) does not suffice for the permissibility of engaging in sexual intercourse after the blood of menstruation stops flowing though it is sufficient for ritual worship. A woman must therefore wash herself first. It was mentioned in Al-Fawakih Al-Dawani ‘ala Rislat Ibn Abu Zayd Al-Qayrawani (vol. 1, p. 159) that tayamum stands in lieu of water [for the permissibility of observing] ritual acts of worship though not for the permissibility of engaging in sexual intercourse after the blood of menstruation ceases to flow. A woman must wash herself before her husband can engage in sexual intercourse with her.

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