Tuesday 12 Rabi‘ at-akhir 1446 - 15 October 2024
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Can Menstruating Women Enter Al-Masjid An-Nabawi?

Question

Is it permissible for a woman to enter the sanctuary of Madinah when she is menstruating? What should she do if she is menstruating and she enters the city of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)?

Summary of answer

Menstruating women are not forbidden to enter Makkah or Madinah. There is nothing in the texts to suggest that they are not allowed to enter these cities.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Menstruating women are not forbidden to enter Makkah or Madinah. There is nothing in the texts to suggest that they are not allowed to enter these cities. Rather the texts indicate the opposite. 

Women who come for Hajj and `Umrah can be menstruating and the only thing that they are not allowed to do is to circumambulate the Ka`bah.

`Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) was with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) during the Farewell Pilgrimage and she got her menses before she entered Makkah, but he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not tell her not to enter the city until she became pure (her period ended)! Rather he told her to do all the rituals of Hajj except for Tawaf around the Ka`bah, which she was to delay until she became pure. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Do everything that the pilgrims do, but do not circumambulate the House until you become pure.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, 305 and Muslim, 1211) 

Don’t the women who live in Madinah also menstruate? Do they go out of the city at that time? The point is that there is nothing wrong with a menstruating woman entering Makkah or Madinah and staying there. It is very clear and there is no need to look for evidence. 

With regard to a menstruating woman entering the mosque (whether it is Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah, or Al-Masjid An-Nabawi (the Mosque of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in Madinah), or any other mosque, we have explained in the answer to question no. 33649  that it is not permissible for a menstruating woman to enter the mosque. 

For more details, please refer to the following answers: 60213 , 146758 , and 33649 .

And Allah knows best.

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Source: Islam Q&A