Muslim Women · Fiqh & Worship

Can I Read Quran During My Period? A Clear Islamic Guide

A gentle, well-sourced answer for every sister who wants to stay connected to the Quran — even during her period.

By the Zaid Academy Editorial Team Al-Azhar–trained teachers In line with Dar al-Ifta guidance

A woman may wonder: ﴾ “Can I continue reading the Quran while I am on my period? What if I have a goal of completing the Quran every month?” ﴿

The answer requires a little explanation, because Islamic scholars have discussed this issue from different legal perspectives.

Can I Read the Quran During My Period?

According to the majority of classical Muslim jurists, a menstruating woman should not perform formal oral recitation (tilawah) of the Quran during menstruation.

This position is based principally on reports concerning a person in a state of janabah (major ritual impurity), including the narration from Ali ibn Abi Talib that nothing prevented the Prophet ﷺ from reciting the Quran except janabah. This report is recorded in Musnad Ahmad and other collections and has been regarded as acceptable evidence by a number of scholars, although scholars have discussed the strength of its chain.

Another narration, recorded by al-Tirmidhi, states that a menstruating woman and a person in a state of janabah should not recite anything from the Quran. However, the hadith itself has been graded weak by a number of hadith scholars, which is one of the reasons this remains a matter of legitimate scholarly disagreement.

Therefore, it is more accurate to say:

Egypt's Dar al-Ifta explicitly records this disagreement and notes that the Maliki school permits a menstruating woman to recite the Quran during menstruation, particularly because the period may be lengthy and stopping recitation could cause her to forget what she has memorized.

A simplified summary of the positions discussed above. For your exact situation, follow a qualified scholar within the school of fiqh you follow.

What Can I Do With the Quran During My Period?

Even if you follow the majority opinion, menstruation does not mean that you have to disconnect from the Quran.

1. Read the Quran silently with your eyes

You may look at the Quranic text and follow the verses with your eyes without verbally pronouncing the words. This distinction is important: looking at the words is not the same as performing oral recitation. Dar al-Ifta permits a menstruating woman to look at Quranic verses without uttering them.

2. Read the Quran on your phone or tablet

You can also use a smartphone, iPad, tablet, computer, or a digital Quran application. The important distinction is that a digital Quran is not treated in exactly the same way as a physical printed Mushaf.

Dar al-Ifta's current guidance specifically permits a menstruating woman to look at Quranic text on a phone or electronic Quran without verbalizing it.

3. Listen to Quran recitation

Listening to the Quran is another excellent way to maintain your daily connection with Allah's Book. You can listen while driving, cooking, exercising, resting, following along with the text, or preparing for sleep. Listening is not the same as performing the recitation yourself.

4. Continue studying the Quran

Your period does not prevent you from learning:

• Tafsir
• Quranic vocabulary
• Tajweed theory — a perfect time to review how to read Quran with Tajweed
• Meanings of verses & translation
• Islamic studies
• Memorization strategies

This can actually turn your menstrual days into an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the Quran, rather than focusing only on the number of pages recited.

What About Touching the Physical Mushaf?

The majority of jurists also prohibit a menstruating woman from directly touching the physical Mushaf. This ruling concerns the physical Quranic copy — not simply seeing Quranic text on a screen.

Dar al-Ifta states that the majority prohibit touching the Mushaf during menstruation, while also recording the Maliki position that permits touching it in certain educational circumstances, such as learning or teaching the Quran.

If you want to follow the cautious majority position, use a phone or tablet instead of directly handling the printed Mushaf.

What If I Am Memorizing the Quran?

This is where the issue becomes especially important. Imagine that you are memorizing the Quran and your period lasts six or seven days. Completely stopping revision could make it difficult to maintain what you have already memorized.

This is one of the reasons scholars have given special consideration to necessity, learning, teaching, and fear of forgetting.

The Maliki school permits a menstruating woman to recite the Quran during menstruation and gives particular consideration to the possibility of forgetting memorized Quran. Dar al-Ifta also states that a woman facing genuine difficulty or needing recitation for memorization, teaching, or similar work may follow this position according to the extent of her need.

Some jurists also distinguish between tilawah and reciting Quranic words as dhikr or dua. In Hanafi and Shafi'i discussions, for example, Quranic passages used as supplication or remembrance may be treated differently when the intention is dhikr or dua rather than formal Quranic recitation.

Can I Still Complete the Quran Every Month?

Yes, you can continue your Quran journey during your period. If your goal is to complete the Quran every month, you have several options depending on the scholarly position you follow.

So your monthly Quran goal does not have to disappear simply because your menstrual cycle begins.

Does Menstruation Interrupt Your Relationship With the Quran?

No. This is perhaps the most important point.

The Quran is not preserved only on pages. It is also preserved in the hearts of believers — through memorization, teaching, transmission and continuous learning. The physical Mushaf is an essential written record, while generations of Muslims have also preserved the Quran through memorized recitation and teacher-to-student transmission.

This is why Islamic Quran education has traditionally combined a continuous chain:

Your period may temporarily affect one form of worship, according to the opinion you follow, but it does not prevent you from learning, remembering, listening to, studying, and reflecting upon the Quran.

The Simple Answer

So if your goal is to stay connected to the Quran every day, your period does not have to mean seven days away from the Quran. You can continue learning, listening, reviewing, reflecting — and, where applicable, follow the scholarly opinion that permits recitation according to your circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَم — And Allah knows best.