Intimate Relations After Menstrual Bleeding Stops But Before One’s Menstrual Habit

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question:

It is established that a woman would have to wait until the length of her last menstrual period had elapsed, to have sexual intercourse with her husband, if her period ended earlier than her last habit, i.e. her current period ends at 5 days, whereas her last period ended at seven days. My question is, is direct contact between the woman and her husband allowed, between her navel and knees before the length of her last menstrual habit has passed, if her period ended at an earlier time, while she is in a state of purity?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

In the Hanafi school, it is not permitted to have sexual intercourse if one’s period ends before one’s habit. Thus, if one’s period stopped on day 5, and one’s habit is to experience 7 days of menstruation, sexual intercourse would only be allowed after day 7.

As for direct contact, that too would be impermissible in the Hanafi school after day 5.

For details, see below.

In the Shafi`i school, sexual relations are permitted once one’s menstrual bleeding stops, even before one’s habit.

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam. 

Faraz Rabbani

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