Prohibition of sexual relations during menses – The logic behind it

Prohibition of sexual relations during menses – The logic behind it

 

No rule of the Shariah is without any benefit for those who follow it.  Anything that is forbidden is not without harm and all those things which have to be done do have worldly and religious benefit as well.  For this reason, pure things are permissible and impure things are forbidden.  This is divine law.  Allah Most High says in the Holy Quran:

 

….declares wholesome things lawful and impure ones unlawful for them….Surah A’araaf (7:157)

 

Although sexual relations between the husband and wife are permissible and in some cases compulsory, they are ordered to refrain from intercourse when the wife is in menses.  This is because this act leads to many other harms.  Thus, it is mentioned in Hadith:

 

Translation: Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  Any person who has intercourse with his wife when she was having her menses and then gets a child afflicted with leprosy, that person should blame herself.  (Ad Durr Al Manthoor, Surah Baqarah: 222)

 

There is no wisdom in inviting a disease like leprosy – especially afflicting one’s children with it.  One can only hope that Allah Most High cures the disease brought on by such a vile act.  One should repent before Allah Most High for what has happened and to save oneself from the ill effects of it, one should give some charity.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

 

Translation: About the man who has had sex with his wife when she was in her menses, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  That person should give one or half a Dinar in charity.

 

There are strict warnings for those who have sex with their wives when they are having menses.  It has been said that that person denies the law brought by Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Repentance and expiation (as mentioned above) is really really necessary for such a person.

 

There is a Hadith in Jame’ Tirmidhi and Tafseer Khazin:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  The person who has sex with a menstruating wife or has anal sex or visits a sorcerer, that person has denied what has been revealed to Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 135)

 

This is also well established that the menstrual blood is impure and can harm both the wife and the husband.  The success of this world and the hereafter lies in following the rules and precepts of Islam.

 

May Allah Most High guide us to act upon this.