Delaying Ghusl After Menstruation: 4 Important Things for Muslim Women

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Hi all readers! Are you looking for an explanation of delaying ghusl after menstruation? If your answer is “Yes”, congratulations! Now you are reading the right article. Why? Because that is what I will explain in this article. As Muslims, we must understand that. So, you have to read it to the end.

Specifically, there are four important things about delaying ghusl after menstruation which I will explain in this article. The four important things I mean are as follows:

Menstruation in Islam

The first important thing about delaying ghusl after menstruation which I will explain now is menstruation in Islam. I want you to understand that before you read any further explanation in this article because that is one of the focus of our discussion now.

In general, we can understand menstruation as a condition of women when there is blood coming out of their private parts at a certain time. I assume you already understand that. So, I'm not going to explain much about it here.

In Islam, when Muslim women are menstruating, there are certain things they cannot do and some things they can do. What this means is that on the one hand, menstruation is the thing that distinguishes what Muslim women can and cannot do when they are experiencing it, and what they should do after menstruation. Therefore, if we read Islamic legal literacy about menstruation, we will find many explanations about it.

That is a brief explanation of menstruation in Islam. As Muslims, we must understand that.

Effect of Menstruation on Muslim Women

The second important point about delaying ghusl after menstruation which I will explain now is the effect of menstruation on Muslim women. Specifically, I will explain things that are forbidden for Muslim women who are menstruating.

If we read Islamic legal literacy regarding menstruation, we will find an explanation that if Muslim women are menstruating, they are prohibited from doing the following things:

Salat

The First prohibition for menstruating women is salat. We can find this explanation in the hadith below.

قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : إِذَا أقْبَلَتِ الحَيْضَةُ، فَدَعِي الصَّلَاةَ، وإذَا أدْبَرَتْ، فَاغْسِلِي عَنْكِ الدَّمَ وصَلِّي

Allah's Messenger (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, "If menstruation has come, then do not pray. If it (menstruation) has gone, then clean the menstrual blood and pray."

Divorced

The second prohibition for menstruating women is divorce. We can find this explanation in the hadith below.

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أنَّهُ طَلَّقَ امْرَأَتَهُ، وَهي حَائِضٌ في عَهْدِ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وسلَّمَ، فَسَأَلَ عُمَرُ بنُ الخَطَّابِ رَسُوْلَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : مُرْهُ فَلْيُرَاجِعْهَا

From Ibn Umar, that he had divorced his wife when she was menstruating during the time of the Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Umar bin Khattab then asked about it to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Allah's Messenger sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam then said to him, "Order him to return to his wife…"

Having Sex

The third prohibition for menstruating women is to have sex. We can find this explanation in the Quran and hadith below.

وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْمَحِيضِ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًى فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاءَ فِي الْمَحِيضِ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ ۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ

They ask you about menstruation. Say, "Menstruation is something dirty." That is why you should stay away from women when they are menstruating. And do not approach them until they are pure. If they are pure, then come to them where Allah has commanded you. Verily, Allah loves those who repent and those who purify themselves." (Al-Baqarah: 222).

عَنْ أَنَسٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ، أَنَّ الْيَهُوْدَ كَانَتْ إِذَا حَاضَتْ الْمَرْأَةُ لَمْ يُؤَاكِلُوْهَا ، فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : اِصْنَعُوْا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا النِّكَاحَ . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

From Anas radliyallaahu anhu, that if the wife of a Jew is menstruating, then she will not eat with her. The Prophet (Muhammad) sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said, "Do everything except sex." This hadith was narrated by Muslim.

Wudu and Janaba Bath

According to the opinion of Shafiiyah and Hanabilah, menstruating women are not allowed to perform wudu and Janabah bath. The reason is because the purpose of wudu and Janabah bath is to purify the body from minor hadas and major hadas. A menstruating woman who performs wudu and Janabah bath will not be able to do that because she will continue to have major hadas before her period is over.

So, it will be in vain if a menstruating woman performs wudu and Janabah bath.

I'tikaf

The fifth prohibition for menstruating women is I'tikaf. We can find this explanation in the hadith below.

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : إِنِّيْ لَا أُحِلُّ الْمَسْجِدَ لِحَائِضٍ وَلَا جُنُبٍ . رَوَاهُ أَبُوْ دَاوُدَ

From Aisha radliyallaahu anhaa, she said, "The Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alaihi wa sallam has said, "Indeed I do not allow women who are menstruating and people who are junub to stay in the mosque." This hadith was narrated by Abu Dawud.

Fasting (Shaum)

The sixth prohibition for menstruating women is fasting (shaum). We can find this explanation in the hadith below:

عَنْ أَبِيْ سَعِيْدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ : أَلَيْسَ إِذَا حَاضَتْ لَمْ تُصَلِّ وَلَمْ تَصُمْ

From Abu Sa'id al-Khudri radliyallahu anhu from the Prophet (Muhammad) sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam, he said, "Isn't if she is menstruating then she does not pray and does not fast."

Tawaf

The seventh prohibition for menstruating women is Tawaf. We can find this explanation in the hadith below.

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهَا قَالَتْ ؛ لَمَّا جِئْنَا سَرِفْ حِضْتُ . فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : اِفْعَلِيْ مَا يَفْعَلُ الْحَاجُّ غَيْرَ أَنْ لَا تَطُوْفِيْ فِيْ الْبَيْتِ حَتَّى تَطْهُرِي . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ

From Aisah radliyallaahu Taala anhaa, she said, “When we arrived at Sarif, I was on my period. The Prophet (Muhammad) sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam then said, "Do something that is usually done by people who perform Hajj, but you do not perform tawaf in the Baitul Haram until you are pure." This hadith was narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Touching Quran

The eighth prohibition for menstruating women is touching the Quran. We can find this explanation in the Quran below.

لَّا يَمَسُّهُ إِلَّا الْمُطَهَّرُونَ

Do not touch it except those who are purified. (Al-Waqi'ah: 79).

Those are eight things that are forbidden for women who are menstruating. As Muslims, we must understand that.

Correlation of Menstruation and Ghusl

The third important point about delaying ghusl after menstruation which I will explain now is the correlation of menstruation and ghusl.

By the way, do you guys know what the correlation between menstruation and ghusl is? If you don't know that, then you must understand that when a Muslim woman is menstruating, she has a big hadas or janabah. In Islam, major hadas or janabah can only be removed by ghusl.

So, we can understand that the correlation of menstruation and ghusl is like the correlation of a barrier and something that can remove the barrier. Menstruation can prevent Muslim women from doing some of the things I have described because they have big hadas or janabah. While ghusl is something that can eliminate big hadas or janabah. That's the logic.

We can find an explanation that big hadas or janabah must be removed with ghusl in the hadith below:

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : إِنَّ تَحْتَ كُلِّ شَعْرَةٍ جَنَابَةً ، فَاغْسِلُوْا الشَّعْرَ ، وَانْقُوْا الْبَشَرَةَ . رَوَاهُ أَبُوْ دَاوُدَ وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ

From Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhu, he said, "The Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam has said, "Verily under every hair there is a janabah. Wash your hair and clean your skin!” The hadith was narrated by Abu Daud and at-Tirmidhi.

That's a brief explanation of the correlation between menstruation and ghusl. As Muslims, we must understand that.

What Is the Punishment for Delaying Ghusl After Menstruation?

The important thing about delaying ghusl after menstruation which I will explain now is "what is the punishment for delaying ghusl after menstruation?". I want you to understand that because it is one of the things that Muslim women who are menstruating may ask.

All readers! If we read Islamic legal literacy about menstruation, we will find an explanation that there is no punishment for delaying menstruation. It's just that if Muslim women who have menstruated do not perform ghusl, then they are still not allowed to do forbidden things while they are menstruating.

So, specifically, I want to say that Muslim women after menstruation may delay ghusl and there is no punishment.

That's a brief explanation of delaying ghusl after menstruation. Do you understand? If you want to ask, please ask.

I think that's enough for this article. May be useful. Amen.

See you again in the next article.