What is permissible between the husband and wife when the wife is menstruating?

What is permissible between the husband and wife when the wife is menstruating?

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Sa’ad (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says:  I asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam): If my wife is menstruating, what is permissible between me and my wife?  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) replied:  It is permissible for you to cover your wife’s body from the navel to the knees with a cloth and draw benefit in that manner (it is impermissible to draw benefit from between the navel and the knees without covering that area with a cloth).  This is related by Abu Dawood, Ibn Majah and Imam Ahmed……

 

This is also related by Abu Laila (May Allah be well pleased with him) on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) and all the narrators of Abu Laila (May Allah be well pleased with him) are the narrators of the Saheeh.

 

‘Allama Shami (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) clarifies that when the wife is menstruating, it is permissible for the husband to draw benefit from the navel and above (i.e. the upper body) and down from the knees to feet without covering the said body parts with a cloth.  The husband can draw benefit from the area between the navel and the knees as well after covering it with a cloth – even though menstrual blood might be seen on the sanitary cloths (nowadays pads) used by women. 

 

This is the opinion of Imam Azam Abu Hanifa and Imam Malik (May Allah shower His Mercy on them).  This is the later opinion of Imam Shafa’ee (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) as well.  (Radd Ul Muhtaar and Mirqaat)

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Aisha Siddiqua (May Allah be well pleased with her), she says: I and the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would bathe from the same vessel when in a state of ritual uncleanliness.  When I would be having my periods, the Prophet would order me to cover the area between the navel and knees with a cloth.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would embrace me.

 

When in Seclusion (‘Itikaaf) in the mosque, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would remain in the mosque and stretch His head out of the mosque and I (remaining outside the mosque) would wash His head.  I would wash His head when having periods.  This is related by Bukhari and Muslim.

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Zaid bin Aslam (May Allah be well pleased with him), he says:  A person asked the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam):  When my wife is menstruating, what is permissible between me and my wife?  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) told that person:  Your wife should cover the area between her navel and her knees with a cloth and you can draw benefit (from that area) from over that cloth without intercourse.  This is related by Imam Malik and Daarimi.

 

[Excerpted from Noor Ul Masabeeh, Vol. 1]