Can I touch the Quran on my period?
It depends on the school, but most scholars say not directly. The majority view is that a woman on her period shouldn't touch the Arabic mushaf with bare hands. Many of them allow it with a barrier like gloves or a cloth, and most contemporary scholars allow reading from a phone or tablet. Your period doesn't cut you off from the Quran.
The majority view
The four main schools (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali) generally hold that touching the mushaf requires a state of purity, and a period is a state that needs ghusl afterwards. They base this on a verse about the Quran:
They also cite a letter the Prophet ﷺ sent to Yemen, recorded in al-Muwatta of Imam Malik and other books, saying that only a pure person should touch the Quran. Other scholars, such as Ibn Hazm, read the verse as being about the angels and the preserved tablet in heaven, and allowed touching. Both views exist among serious scholars.
What most scholars allow
- With a barrier: touching the mushaf with gloves, a sleeve or a cloth is allowed in the Hanafi and Hanbali schools (Hanafis prefer a cover that isn't attached to the book).
- Learning and teaching: the Maliki school allows a menstruating woman to touch and read the mushaf when she is a student or teacher, so her learning doesn't stop for a week each month.
- Phones and apps: most contemporary scholars say a screen isn't a mushaf. See Can I read the Quran on my phone without wudu?
- Translations and tafsir: books that are mostly translation or commentary are not treated like the Arabic mushaf by many scholars.
Your period is not a punishment
Some women feel distant or "unclean" during these days. That isn't the Islamic picture. When Aisha said she was menstruating, the Prophet ﷺ told her: "Your menstruation is not in your hand" (Sahih Muslim 298). And he used to recline in her lap "when I was menstruating, and recite the Qur'an" (Sahih Muslim 301). You're still close to Allah during these days.
Staying connected during your period
- Listen: listening to recitation is allowed by everyone.
- Dhikr and dua: say SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu akbar and make dua in any language.
- Read meanings: study a translation or tafsir.
Whether you can recite from memory is a separate question. See Can I recite the Quran from memory on my period? For prayer, see Do I have to pray while on my period?
- Most scholars: no bare-hand touching of the Arabic mushaf.
- Gloves, a cloth or a phone app are widely allowed.
- Malikis allow it for learning and teaching.
- Listening, dhikr and dua stay open to you.
People also ask
Is a Quran translation still the Quran?
No, not fully: the Quran is the Arabic text, and a translation conveys its meanings. Translations are still valuable guidance.
Read the full answer →Can I read the Quran if I can't read Arabic?
Yes. Read a translation for the meaning, listen to recitation, and learn the Arabic letters step by step. Struggling is rewarded.
Read the full answer →How do I understand the verses about fighting in the Quran?
It depends on context: the fighting verses came during real wars, limit fighting to aggressors and forbid transgression.
Read the full answer →What should I do if a Quran verse feels harsh or confusing?
It depends on the verse, but start with context: read the surrounding verses, check a tafsir and ask someone knowledgeable.
Read the full answer →Can a woman learn the Quran from a male teacher?
Yes, most scholars allow it if you're never alone together and lessons stay professional. A female teacher is preferable if one is available.
Read the full answer →