Can I do dhikr on my period?
Yes, you can do dhikr on your period. SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Astaghfirullah, salawat on the Prophet ﷺ and any dua are all allowed, and scholars agree on this. What your period pauses is the prayer and fasting, not your connection with Allah, so this is a great time to lean into dhikr.
What you can do
- All dhikr phrases: SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Astaghfirullah.
- Dua: in Arabic or your own language, as much as you like.
- Morning, evening and bedtime adhkar: keep your routine going.
- Listening to the Quran, lectures and reminders.
- Learning: reading tafsir, books on Islam and translations.
The early Muslim women were included in worship during their periods. Umm Atiyya reported that menstruating women were brought out on Eid "so that they might stand behind the men and say Takbir along with them and invoke Allah along with them" (Sahih al-Bukhari 971). They stayed away from the prayer area itself but joined in the takbir and dua.
When Aisha got her period during Hajj and cried, the Prophet ﷺ comforted her: "This is the thing which Allah has ordained for all the daughters of Adam. So do what all the pilgrims do except that you do not perform the Tawaf round the Ka`ba till you are clean" (Sahih al-Bukhari 305). Pilgrims spend those days in constant dhikr and dua, and she was told to carry on with all of it.
What's paused
- Salah and fasting: you don't pray, and missed prayers are not made up. See Do I have to pray while on my period?
- Touching the mushaf: most scholars say no; some allow it with a barrier or for learning.
- Reciting the Quran: scholars differ. The Maliki school and some others allow reciting from memory; others don't. See Can I recite the Quran from memory on my period?
Ayat al-Kursi and the three Quls
Many women ask about protective verses at bedtime. Even scholars who don't allow Quran recitation during a period generally allow saying Quranic phrases with the intention of dhikr or dua, such as "Bismillah" or "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un". Some of them extend this to Ayat al-Kursi and the last surahs when read for protection, while others are more cautious, and those who allow recitation from memory have no issue at all. If you're unsure, ask a local scholar you trust, and keep up the rest of your adhkar meanwhile.
Don't let the week feel empty
Some converts feel cut off when they can't pray. That feeling is common, but your worship hasn't stopped. The Prophet ﷺ even recited the Quran while resting on Aisha's lap during her period (Sahih al-Bukhari 297), which shows she wasn't treated as impure or distant. A simple plan helps: at each prayer time, sit for two minutes and do the after-prayer dhikr or a short dua. That keeps the rhythm of your day, and returning to salah afterwards feels easy.
- Dhikr and dua are fully allowed during your period.
- Salah and fasting are paused; prayers aren't made up.
- Scholars differ on reciting the Quran from memory.
- Keep prayer times as dhikr times to stay connected.
People also ask
Can I make dua in my own words?
Yes, you can make dua in your own words. The Prophet said to choose whatever supplication you like; prophetic duas are best but not the only ones.
Read the full answer →Can I do dhikr without wudu?
Yes, you can do dhikr without wudu. Dhikr and dua need no wudu by scholarly agreement; being in wudu is better but only recommended.
Read the full answer →What does "Alhamdulillah" mean and when do I say it?
Yes, simply: Alhamdulillah means "All praise is due to Allah." Say it after eating, sneezing, prayer, good news and even hard times.
Read the full answer →What does "Allahu Akbar" mean outside of prayer?
Yes, it means the same everywhere: "Allah is greater." Muslims say it when amazed, going up high, on Eid and after prayer.
Read the full answer →What does "Astaghfirullah" mean and how often do I say it?
Yes: Astaghfirullah means "I seek Allah's forgiveness." The Prophet said it 70 to 100 times a day; say it after prayer and after mistakes.
Read the full answer →