Question:
What is the wisdom for the prohibition of one having intercourse with his wife when she is menstruating?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Among the wisdoms for its prohibition is that it causes diseases for both the husband and wife. Numerous scientific research conducted proves that it is a reasonable prohibition.
A woman menstruating experiences hormonal changes. Blood vessel located in the uterus and vagina will expand. Since these vessels are fragile, it will easily burst when penis penetrates the vagina and cervix.
Medical theories acknowledged that menstrual blood could cause diseases. Dr Muhammad Ali al-Bar in his book Daurah al-Arham (The Functions of Uterus) under the title Menstruation and Diseases states: “The whole wall that covers the uterus is shed during menstruation. After analyzing menstrual blood under microscope, we found that there are red and white blood cells, there are also uterus lining that was shed and the uterus is wounded like when skin is peeled off.”
He further said, “Thus, the uterus is susceptible to bacterial infection. Blood is an optimum medium for bacterial growth. During menstruation, the immunity of uterus is weakened and is susceptible to bacterial infection. Bacteria on the surface of the penis is very harmful to the uterus. It’s even more harmful when the immunity of the uterus is in a weakened state during menstruation for there is limited isolation process of the acidic fallopian tube that kills bacteria.”
Intercourse during menstruation can also cause inflammation of the uterus and fallopian tube that could lead to lifetime pain which is hard to cure and could also lead to other diseases such as:
- Sustained inflammation on both ovaries in the uterus
- Sustained inflammation of the bladder (urinary tract inflammation)
- Extreme pain during menstruation
- Weakened immune system
- Decreases sex drive and inclination to be alone
- Infectious diseases for the male partner especially swelling which increases the risks to the urinary organ.
- Dizziness and migraine
So true is the statement of Allah SWT:
وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْمَحِيضِ ۖ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًى فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاءَ فِي الْمَحِيضِ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ ۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ اللَّـهُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ ﴿٢٢٢﴾
And they ask you about menstruation. Say, "It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allah has ordained for you. Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves."
Surah al-Baqarah (222)
Although it is impure, Islam does not command its followers to seclude his wife who is menstruating as what is done by the Jews. They refuse to eat, sleep or even live together with their wives who are menstruating. The Prophet PBUH himself eat and sleep with his wife when she is menstruating. This proves how Islam honour women even when they are menstruating.
Wallahua’lam.