Can You Read Quran on Your Period?

Key Takeaways

Touching the Mushaf directly without a barrier is forbidden for menstruating women according to the four madhabs.

Reciting Quran from memory or a phone screen is permissible according to the preponderant scholarly opinion.

The Maliki madhab and Ibn Taymiyyah permit recitation during menstruation, especially to prevent forgetting memorized verses.

Reading from Tafseer books or a phone is widely permitted, as neither is classified as a Mushaf.

Touching the Mushaf through a physical barrier is permitted when there is a genuine need, such as memorization review.

Many Muslim women, especially those learning Quran for the first time or working to maintain their recitation, find themselves uncertain and anxious when their period begins. 

The short answer is that reciting the Quran from memory or a digital screen during menstruation is permissible according to the Maliki madhab, Ibn Taymiyyah, and Ibn Baz, and this is the position many contemporary scholars consider most sound. Directly touching the Mushaf without a barrier, however, remains forbidden across all four madhabs.

Can You Read the Quran on Your Period According to Scholarly Opinion?

Yes, reciting the Quran on your period is permissible according to a strong and well-supported scholarly position. The Maliki madhab, one narration from Imam Ahmad, and Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah all permit it, particularly when stopping would risk forgetting memorized verses. 

This view is considered by many contemporary scholars to be the most sound, given the extended nature of the menstrual period compared to the temporary state of Janabah (major ritual impurity).

The majority position — held by the Hanafi, Shafi’i, and Hanbali schools — prohibits recitation during menstruation by analogy with one in the state of Janabah. Their evidence includes the narration from ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet ﷺ would not be prevented from Quran recitation by anything except Janabah, as reported in Sunan Abi Dawud.

Ibn Taymiyyah distinguished clearly between the two states: a person in Janabah can remove that state whenever they choose, while a menstruating woman cannot. Preventing her from recitation for an extended period — sometimes seven to ten days or longer — creates a genuine risk of disconnection from the Quran.

At The Quran Reading Academy, our Quran Reading Classes for Sisters are structured with this reality in mind, ensuring continuity of learning throughout the month.

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What Is the Ruling on Touching the Mushaf During Menstruation?

Touching the Mushaf directly, without a barrier, is forbidden for a menstruating woman — and this ruling is unanimous across all four madhabs. The evidence is the verse of the Quran:

لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْمُطَهَّرُونَ

Lā yamassuhū illā l-muṭahharūn

“None touch it except the purified.” (Al-Waqi’ah:79)

Scholars further cite the statement in the letter to ‘Amr ibn Hazm: “None should touch the Quran except one who is in a state of purity” — a narration authenticated by Al-Albani and reported by Al-Hakim, Ahmad, and Malik.

This ruling is one of the clearest areas of scholarly agreement in Islamic jurisprudence. 

No madhab permits direct, barrier-free contact with the Mushaf during menstruation.

Can I Read Quran on My Period from a Phone or Tablet?

Yes — reciting Quran from a phone, tablet, or any digital screen during menstruation is widely permitted by contemporary scholars. A phone screen is not classified as a Mushaf in the classical legal sense, so the prohibition on touching the Mushaf does not extend to it. This is the position of many qualified contemporary scholars and Islamic fatwa bodies.

This means a menstruating woman can:

• Open a Quran app and recite from it without restriction
• Listen to recitation and follow along on screen
• Continue her daily Wird or memorization review using her phone

For sisters working through structured memorization programs, including those enrolled in our Quran Reading Classes for Adults, this ruling removes a significant barrier to continuity. Maintaining your reading rhythm through menstruation is not only permissible; it is actively encouraged.

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Can I Read the Quran on My Period from Memory?

Reciting Quran from memory (without any physical Mushaf) during menstruation is permissible according to the preponderant scholarly opinion, and this applies to any amount of recitation, including daily portions (wird) and Hifz review.

This is particularly significant for women in the process of memorization. At The Quran Reading Academy, we consistently observe that students who stop all Quran contact during menstruation — even for five to seven days — frequently return to their next session with noticeably weakened retention. What was solid becomes shaky within a week of complete disengagement.

Ibn Taymiyyah went further, stating that if a woman fears forgetting her memorization if she does not review it during her period, reviewing the Mushaf through a barrier becomes obligatory upon her — as conveyed by Al-Mardawi in Al-Insaf.

Can You Read Quran While on Period from Tafseer Books?

Reading Quran verses as they appear within books of Tafseer during menstruation is permissible, as Tafseer books are not classified as a Mushaf. This ruling is grounded in the principle that the prohibition specifically targets the Mushaf itself — a volume compiled exclusively of Quranic text. 

Tafseer works contain commentary, explanation, and analysis alongside the verses, placing them in a different legal category.

Read Also: Can Children Read Quran Without Wudu?

Can I Read Quran on My Period While Touching the Mushaf Through a Barrier?

Touching the Mushaf through a barrier — such as gloves, a cloth, or a book cover — is permitted by a number of scholars when there is a genuine need, such as reviewing memorization, studying, or teaching. This is a recognized position in Islamic jurisprudence, distinct from the unconditional prohibition on direct contact.

The table below summarizes the key rulings across different methods of access:

Method of Access	Ruling	Condition
Recitation from memory	Permissible	No conditions (majority preponderant view)
Recitation from phone/tablet screen	Permissible	Screen not classified as Mushaf
Reading from Tafseer books	Permissible	Not classified as Mushaf
Touching Mushaf with barrier	Permissible (many scholars)	Genuine need (memorization, teaching)
Touching Mushaf without barrier	Forbidden	All four madhabs agree

For sisters managing an active memorization load, the barrier option offers a practical, jurisprudentially grounded solution when reviewing from the Mushaf is genuinely necessary.

Read Also: Do You Have to Wear a Scarf When Reading Quran?

Can I Read Quran on My Period If I Am a Hafizah or Quran Teacher?

Yes, a woman who teaches the Quran or is in the process of Hifz has an even stronger case for permissibility of recitation during menstruation. The Maliki madhab and Ibn Taymiyyah both specifically cite the teacher and student as examples where recitation is clearly permitted. 

A Quran teacher who stops all recitation and teaching for seven to ten days each month faces a genuine and recurring disruption to her ‘ibadah and her professional responsibility.

The scholarly reasoning here is consistent: the restriction on Janabah does not apply with the same force to menstruation precisely because menstruation is not removable at will. 

A Hafizah who fears forgetting her memorization has both permission and, according to Ibn Taymiyyah, an obligation to maintain her review.

Sisters pursuing structured memorization with The Quran Reading Academy’s Reading and Memorizing the Quran Course should feel confident continuing their Hifz review from memory or digital sources throughout their menstrual period.

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Read Also: Can We Read Quran Without Covering Head?

Can U Read Quran on Period If You Are a Beginner Still Learning the Basics?

Absolutely. Beginners learning to read the Quran have clear permission to continue their lessons and practice during menstruation, using memory, phone, or digital learning tools. In fact, stopping completely during the learning phase carries a real risk: foundational reading skills, Arabic letter recognition, and early Tajweed habits are built through daily repetition. Any prolonged gap in the early stages can significantly slow progress.

For non-Arabic speaking beginners just starting with Arabic letter recognition and vowel sounds, our Quran Reading Course for Beginners and the Al-Menhaj Book curriculum are fully compatible with continued learning during menstruation — since all classroom practice uses digital materials and audio-based instruction, not a physical Mushaf.

Enroll in Our Quran Reading Course for Beginners with a Free Trial

If you are new to Quran reading and unsure where to begin, learning how to read the Quran from the very beginning is the right foundation to explore.

Read Also: Can You Read Quran on Your Phone on Your Period?

Continue Your Quran Reading Journey with The Quran Reading Academy

Whether you are on your period or not, consistent Quran engagement is what builds real recitation skill over time.

The Quran Reading Academy offers:

• Certified female instructors for sisters of all levels
• Flexible scheduling that works around your real life
• The Al-Menhaj Book: structured foundational reading for non-Arabic speakers
• Foundational Quran Tajweed Course for those ready to read with accuracy
• A Free trial lesson: no commitment required

Check out our top courses to help you read the Quran with confidence:

• Quran Reading Course With Tajweed
• Noorani Qaida Course
• Quran Reading Course for Beginners
• Quran Reading Classes for Adults
• Quran Reading Classes for Sisters
• Quran Reading Classes for Kids
• Quran Hifz Course
• Arabic Reading Practice Course
• Quranic Arabic Course

Book your free class today—it’s the perfect start to learning the Quran

Conclusion

The question of whether you can read Quran on your period has a clear, well-grounded answer: recitation from memory, a phone screen, or Tafseer books is permissible according to a strong scholarly position — one supported by Imam Malik, Ibn Taymiyyah, and Ibn Baz. Touching the Mushaf without a barrier remains the one prohibition all four madhabs agree upon.

What matters most is that you do not allow your monthly cycle to become a reason for complete disconnection from the Quran. Your memorization, your recitation skills, and your daily relationship with Allah’s words deserve to be protected and maintained. Keep your Quran app open, keep reviewing, and keep reading — alhamdulillah, the scholars have made a clear path available for you.

Read Also: Can You Read Quran on Your Period With Gloves?

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