Prohibition of sexual intercourse during menses – The logic behind it

 

Prohibition of sexual intercourse during menses – The logic behind it

 

When a Muslim comes of age, he/she is bound to follow the rules of the Shariah.  To follow the dos and donts of the Shariah becomes binding on the Muslim.  There are some things that have to de done and some things that have to be avoided.

 

Among those things which are to be avoided, some things are to avoided at all times like consumption of alcohol, adultery, etc. and some things are to be avoided at specific times although in and of itself that act itself might be permissible.  For e.g. fasting is prohibited is the days of Tashreeq, as the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has said:  The days of Tashreeq are the days of food and drink.  (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2734)

 

Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran: 

 

And they ask you about menstruation. Say: ‘It is filth; so keep away from women during menstruation and do not approach them until they become pure. And when they have washed themselves clean, consort with them the way by which Allah has permitted you.’  Surah Baqarah (2: 222)

 

The background of the revelation of this verse is that when their wives would be in menses, the Jews would have sex with their wives nor have any dealings with them.  In fact, they would not even eat with them and would make them sleep separately.  On the other hand, the Christians held sex with their menstruating wives as permissible.  After the declaration of Prophethood when the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was asked about the rules regarding menses, the aforementioned verse of the Holy Quran was revealed, as is mentioned in this Hadith:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas bin Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him) that when any Jewish women had her menses, they would drive her out of the house.  They would neither partake of food with them nor would they have intercourse with her.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was asked about this and this verse of the Holy Quran was revealed:  And they ask you about menstruation. Say: ‘It is filth; so keep away from women during menstruation and do not approach them until they become pure. And when they have washed themselves clean, consort with them the way by which Allah has permitted you:  Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith No. 1383)

 

[To be continued….]