"They ask you about menstruation: Say, it is harmful;
you shall avoid sexual intercourse with the women during menstruation; do
not approach them until they are rid of it. Once they are rid of it, you
may have intercourse with them in the manner designed by God. God loves those
who are clean. Your women are the bearers of your seed. Thus, you may enjoy
this privilege however you like, so long as you maintain righteousness. You
shall observe God, and know that you will meet Him. Give good news to the
believers." 2:222, 223
As we know, many Islamic Scholars tend to abuse the meaningful verses of
the Quran to benefit their own agendas. One of the abused verses that I would
like to write about is verses 2:222-223.
First, let us tackle the misunderstanding of the Islamic scholars regarding
these verses. They have innovated religious laws prohibiting menstruating
women from observing the Contact prayers, fasting, and even touching the
Quran. However, a careful study of these verses shows that God is teaching
us about personal hygiene, and there is no law dealing with the religious
practices in these verses.
As we know, menstruation is a feminine issue. Ironically, it is the men who
ask about menstruation and the revelation is directed towards the men. Now,
what could possibly concern a man regarding a feminine issue, except for
his own interest in sexual matters? God answers the men by initially letting
them know that having sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman is harmful,
and they should not approach them until they get rid of it. The phrase "get
rid of it" is "tatahharn" in Arabic which is the same word used in 3:55 when
God tells Jesus: "I am terminating your life, raising you to Me, and ridding
you of the disbelievers."
However, if this verse were referring to women's religious practices during
menstruation, God would have directed the verse to the women. As it turns
out, neither in this verse, nor in any other verse God forbids menstruating
women from practicing their religious duties; it only refers to personal
hygiene, and the statement of "your women are the bearers of your seed",
in the following verse proves this fact. A man and his wife are allowed to
have intercourse in the manner designed by God, which is vaginal intercourse.
The only way a woman can be "the bearer" of a man's seed is through the vagina
to the uterus. By mentioning this statement, God is prohibiting non-vaginal
intercourse. Therefore, the statement of "however you like" cannot be
misconstrued.
Now let us look at the point of view of the opponents of religion. Their
view on this matter is that God humiliates the women by such statements.
On the contrary, God is preventing men from viewing women as sexual objects
and from sexually abusing women by commanding the men to have sexual intercourse
with them in the manner designed by God.
It is noteworthy that the statement "as long as righteousness is maintained"
is there to protect the woman. Please note that this verse does not only
deals with the physical aspect, but also moral aspect which does not allow
a man to abuse a woman by forcing her to have sex anytime without her consent.
Also important is the fact that the statement of "maintaining righteousness"
comes immediately after "however you like", to prevent physical and moral
abuse.
God ordered the husband and wife to live in love mercy and tranquility 30:21.
Therefore, when all activities in marriage are based on this statement, which
is the source of righteousness between spouses, it's more likely to prevent
any evil and vice in marriage.
We send down in the Quran healing and mercy for the believers. At the same
time, it only increases the wickedness of the transgressors. 17:82
______________________
Questions and answers about women, menstruation and rape:
Salamun Alaykum
<< 1) i do not agree regarding ok to pray/fast
during menstruation. it is clear that after a 'discharge'/expulsion from
particularly the nether regions of the body,one is in a state of uncleanliness
with re to ritual prayer until one has performed ablution.>>
Answer:
Nowhere in the Quran does it say that women cannot fast, pray, or worship
in any other way during their menstruation. This is an innovation. We have
to know that any rule telling us NOT to worship God under this or the other
circumstance must be from Satan, not from God. The only thing prohibited
during menstruation is sexual intercourse as given in 2:222. But the ignorant
use this verse to base this false idea about women not being able to pray
or fast during menstruation. They claim that it says that women are unclean
during menstruation, and therefore cannot be allowed to pray.
[2:222] They ask you about menstruation: say, "It
is harmful; you shall avoid sexual intercourse with the women during
menstruation; do not approach them until they are rid of it. Once they are
rid of it, you may have intercourse with them in the manner designed by GOD.
GOD loves the repenters, and He loves those who are clean."
As we see this verse does not prohibit a women from observing the religious
duties during menstruation, but only restricts sexual intercourse during
such times. The only circumstances that makes us unclean in the eyes of God,
when it comes to performing the prayers are mentioned in 5:6 and 4:43. In
none of these verses does it say that menstruation is one of these circumstances.
All we have to do to clean ourselves for Salat, is to perform the Wudu. However
there is an incorrect understanding that menstruation nullifies ablution.
But this again does not have any support in Quran. There are two verses in
Quran that tells us what nullifies ablution; 4:43 and 5:6.
[4:43] O you who believe, do not observe the Contact
Prayers (Salat) while intoxicated, so that you know what you are saying.
Nor after sexual orgasm without bathing, unless you are on the road, traveling;
if you are ill or traveling, or you had urinary or fecal-related excretion
(such as gas), or contacted the women (sexually), and you cannot find water,
you shall observe Tayammum (dry ablution) by touching clean dry soil, then
wiping your faces and hands therewith. GOD is Pardoner, Forgiver.
[5:6] O you who believe, when you observe the Contact
Prayers (Salat), you shall: (1) wash your faces, (2) wash your arms to the
elbows, (3) wipe your heads, and (4) wash your feet to the ankles. If you
were unclean due to sexual orgasm, you shall bathe. If you are ill, or traveling,
or had any digestive excretion (urinary, fecal, or gas), or had (sexual)
contact with the women, and you cannot find water, you shall observe the
dry ablution (Tayammum) by touching clean dry soil, then rubbing your
faces and hands. GOD does not wish to make the religion difficult for you;
He wishes to cleanse you and to perfect His blessing upon you, that you may
be appreciative.
These verses that explain what nullifies ablution are applicable to both
men and women. We learn from the above verses that the excretion should be
both fecal related and a digestive excretion to nullify ablution.
Accordingly, menstruation does not nullify ablution. You ask yourself why
can't you accept that women could observe her religious duties of praying
or fasting, etc during menstruation. Is it God's laws that impose such
prohibitions? Or is it a baseless prohibition instituted by religious scholars,
erroneous religious laws inherited from our ancestors that has no Quranic
back-up, etc. The answer you get will never have God's support. Women's
menstruation is by God's design. Why should women be restricted from worshipping
God during times which is exactly as designed by Him, for which she has no
control?
<< where in the Quran does it forbid rape? what
does it say about rape ?> >
Rape is one kind of oppression. God condemns oppression of any kind. God
commands sexual intercourse only with one's spouse. We are commanded to maintain
moral behaviour. God forbids adultery. God forbids prostitution and forgives
the girls forced into committing prostitution. And all bad behavior is condemned.
What more would anyone want? Imploring God for help is the best one can do
for all problems.
Those who commit rape are violating God's laws and will therefore face the
consequence therefore. They are not Submitters (Muslim in Arabic) A believer
in God would know that God does not will anything bad to happen to us and
when it does happen it is because of something wrong that we have done.
[4:147] What will GOD gain from punishing you, if
you became appreciative and believed? GOD is Appreciative,
Omniscient.
[4:79] Anything good that happens to you is from
GOD, and anything bad that happens to you is from you. We have sent you as
a messenger to the people, and GOD suffices as witness.
You may ask what wrong could an oppressed child have done? This and many
more would get clearer if one knows the purpose of our creation. Please see
our following pages to know more on this:
http://www.submission.org/suras/app7.html
http://www.submission.org/islam/introduction.html
I hope this will be helpful, God willing. Please let us know if you need
any clarification.
May God bless you.
info@submission.org
