وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْمَحِيضِ ۖ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًى فَٱعْتَزِلُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فِى ٱلْمَحِيضِ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ ۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٰبِينَ وَيُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ 222
Translations
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 Allāh has ordained for you. Indeed, Allāh loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves."
Transliteration
Wa yas'alunaka anil-mahidh. Qul huwa athan faijtazilun-nisa'a fil-mahidh. Wa la taqrabuhunna hatta yathurna. Fa-itha tathaharna fa'tuhunna min haythu amarakumul-lah. Innal-laha yuhibbut-tawwabin wa yuhibbul-mutatahhirin.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the Islamic ruling regarding marital relations during menstruation, clarifying that it is forbidden until purification is complete. The Qur'an describes menstruation as 'adhâ' (harm/discomfort), establishing the prohibition based on physical and spiritual grounds. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize that the ayah's conclusion praising the repentant and purified ones extends the concept beyond physical cleanliness to spiritual purity and obedience to divine command.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in response to a direct question from the Companions regarding menstruation and marital relations. The Medinan context reflects the need for detailed legal rulings as the Muslim community matured. It appears within Surah Al-Baqarah's section addressing personal and family matters, demonstrating Islam's practical guidance on intimate life.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding menstruating women: 'Do everything except intercourse.' Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah contains rulings about the permissibility of other forms of intimacy during menstruation while strictly forbidding intercourse.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that Islamic law balances physical well-being with spiritual principles, and that submission to Allah's commands—even regarding intimate matters—reflects both respect for one's spouse's health and obedience to divine guidance. It reminds us that Islamic ethics extend to all dimensions of human life with compassion and wisdom.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ
Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allāh, and indeed to Him we will return."
وَلَئِنْ أَتَيْتَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِكُلِّ ءَايَةٍ مَّا تَبِعُوا۟ قِبْلَتَكَ ۚ وَمَآ أَنتَ بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَتَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا بَعْضُهُم بِتَابِعٍ قِبْلَةَ بَعْضٍ ۚ وَلَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَآءَهُم مِّنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ ۙ إِنَّكَ إِذًا لَّمِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And if you brought to those who were given the Scripture every sign, they would not follow your qiblah. Nor will you be a follower of their qiblah. Nor would they be followers of one another's qiblah. So if you were to follow their desires after what has come to you of knowledge, indeed, you would then be among the wrongdoers.
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يَتْلُونَهُۥ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِۦٓ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِۦ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِۦ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
Those to whom We have given the Book recite it with its true recital. They [are the ones who] believe in it. And whoever disbelieves in it - it is they who are the losers.
أَمْ تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَسْـَٔلُوا۟ رَسُولَكُمْ كَمَا سُئِلَ مُوسَىٰ مِن قَبْلُ ۗ وَمَن يَتَبَدَّلِ ٱلْكُفْرَ بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ سَوَآءَ ٱلسَّبِيلِ
Or do you intend to ask your Messenger as Moses was asked before? And whoever exchanges faith for disbelief has certainly strayed from the soundness of the way.