Cocoa Break

I had one of the worst debates with my mother recently with regards to Menstruation and Islam. One thing I realized from that argument, it is dangerous to talk about contrary beliefs to a person. Well unfortunately for me, I like to question when I don’t see obvious answers or when I see contradictory behavior. Like when women are not allowed to pray, fast or in other words not allowed to perform their religious duties and not allowed to even touch the Holy Qur’an but still must say grace before they eat or recite “Do’a” before they do anything with at least a simple “Bismillah” (In the name of God).

Anyway, let me begin with what I know about Islam and Menstruation.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/samlavi/ / CC BY 2.0

The traditional Islamic interpretation of the Qur’an forbids intercourse, but not physical intimacy, during a woman’s menstrual period. During menstrual period, women are not required to perform prayers and fasting. Some scholars believe that women are not authorized to enter mosque during this period. And, after the period, Ghusl (a spiritual bath) is required to be able to perform prayers, fasting, and to enter the mosque – the same type of bath required of both men and women after sexual intercourse.
Quoted from Wikipedia.

Well, I don’t totally agree with the common belief because obviously this was an interpretation of a Sexist Male. If it is not in the Quran, it is not real. What does the Qur’an have to say about this? Let me quote a few verses and you think about it yourself. Also don’t comment about what the Hadith and Sunnah have to say to me. I believe the Qur’an is complete and do not suffer from any inner contradictions. It needs no other references when the topic has been covered.

4:43 O ye who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when you are intoxicated, till ye know that which ye utter, nor when ye are polluted, save when journeying upon the road, till ye have bathed. And if ye be ill, or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have (sexually) contacted women, and ye find not water, than go to high clean soil* and rub your faces and your hands (therewith). Lo! Allah is Benign, Forgiving.

*High clean soil is pure dust. I guess it is like powder. Maybe powder bath would be as good as it but I can’t confirm on that. =x

http://www.flickr.com/photos/el7bara/ / CC BY 2.0

5:6 O ye who believe! When ye rise up for prayer, wash your face, and your hands up to the elbows, and lightly rub your heads and (wash) your feet up to the ankles. And if ye are unclean, purify yourselves. And if ye are sick or on a journey, or one of you cometh from the closet, or ye have had (sexual) contact with women, and ye find not water, then go to clean, high ground and rub your faces and your hands with some of it. Allah would not place a burden on you, but He would purify you and would perfect His grace upon you, that ye may give thanks.

No where did Allah mention about menstruation being dirty here. He mentioned that you should not pray when you are in a “drunken” state, but not when you are menstruating. So did he mention about Menstruation anywhere? Of course he did.

2:222 They question thee (O Muhammad) concerning menstruation. Say: It is a vulnerable condition, so let women alone at such time and go not in unto them till they are cleansed. And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allah hath enjoined upon you. Truly Allah loveth those who turn unto Him, and loveth those who keep themselves pure.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shagra4ever/ / CC BY 2.0

The only circumstances that makes us unclean in the eyes of Allah, when it comes to performing the prayers are mentioned in 5:6 and 4:43. However, Allah doesn’t force you to do anything when you are in such a vulnerable condition. In fact, the good God told men to leave the woman alone, give her the space she needs till she feels better.

So can women pray during their menstrual cycle? My answer is YES, but not required! If she’s not bleeding profusely or continuously and if she can clean herself up well enough, she could perform her ablution and pray.  Else, wait till she’s is not bleeding anymore. So in this sense, they are actually privileged and not lower class humans.

They get monthly detoxes and a break from their daily religious duties until they are fit to perform them again. That is my point of view from the interpretation of the Qur’an. The next issue I have is why are women in Islam not required to go to the Mosque on Moslems’ Sabbath (Friday Prayers) when Allah had not stopped women from doing so before Islam came about!

Somehow, my Mom refused to accept my arguments and brings the story of Adam and Eve and the Apple from Garden of Eden where they both got their puberty together and Eve was told commanded not to perform her daily prayers. But I couldn’t accept it still since it is not an issue in the Qur’an. Also, how can they proclaim that Adam and Eve prayed 5 times a day when Jesus, Moses and probably Abraham did not do so themselves?? All the earlier Prophets mentioned are Jews!

Oh well, till I have another inspiration to write again.

Peace be upon you,

Deen Yusoff

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