Note: This post was originally posted at Achelois but I thought it might be of interest to those who didn’t read it on Achelois. This is just to get the ball rolling.
Some readers of the Quran think that the following ayah denounces menstruation as ‘pollution’ and ‘illness’ as has been shown even in some translations.
Surah Baqara (2.222)
They ask thee concerning women’s courses. Say: They are a hurt and a pollution: So keep away from women in their courses, and do not approach them until they are clean. But when they have purified themselves, ye may approach them in any manner, time, or place ordained for you by Allah. For Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean. (Yusuf Ali)
They question thee (O Muhammad) concerning menstruation. Say: It is an illness, so let women alone at such times and go not in unto them till they are cleansed. And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as Allah hath enjoined upon you. Truly Allah loveth those who turn unto Him, and loveth those who have a care for cleanness. (Pickthal)
Let me quote the ayah in Arabic and translate each of the first few words:
Wa yasalunaka – and they question you
An’nilmahaed – about menstruation
Qul – say
Huwa – it is (note: ‘it’ refers to menstruation)
Atha – harm
The word “atha” does not translate to either pollution or illness. It translates to ‘harm’ and can mean that having sex with a menstruating woman can be harmful to her or that it may hurt her. The last part of the verse points out that if a man has sex with his menstruating woman (which is not allowed but if he falters) then he must repent and Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly thus, He is the one to forgive. Menstruation is seen as illness by the Bible and the punishment for having sex during menstruation is by ostracising the errant couple:
And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people. (Leviticus 20:18)
In other places this is what the Bible has to say about menstruation where it is seen as sin and the atonement is through the sacrifice of two birds/turtles :
And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even. And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean. (Leviticus 15:19-24)
But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness. (Leviticus 15:28-30)
Perhaps the translators had this Biblical notion in mind but in any case it was an eye opener to read the Quran in Arabic and note that it does not call menstruation an illness or pollution. I thought some of us may benefit from this information.
July 2, 2007 at 4:56 pm
good clarification sis!
July 2, 2007 at 9:24 pm
yes, it’s always the subtle(and not so subtle) differences in words that makes me love the Qu’ran.
July 2, 2007 at 10:52 pm
wow…thats interesting..
One thing which is amazing about Quran is that it deals with human’s every day problem. It teaches us that how our behavious in everyday life is the most important thing to him.
July 3, 2007 at 10:10 am
I am grateful for this explanation.
July 4, 2007 at 8:54 am
Mubarak on Alif Laam Mim’s first post. I found it informative and clarifying. But then again, I expected nothing less of you, Achelois
July 4, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Further the biblical notion, I wonder if there’s a relevance her for Acts 10:28
“He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”"
Of course, women are elided altogether but that’s another story. There was also the instance of the woman who bled who touched Jesus’ cloak without censure from him.
One of the core concepts of the New Testament for me is its demonstration of the importance of context – the rules of hygiene you need to observe when trekking through a desert vs the different requirements of what was very much an urban religion by the time of Jesus.
It feels quite weird to be writing so directly about this stuff for the first time in 25 years!!
July 4, 2007 at 7:23 pm
Yes, relaxeddad indeed the context is important and it makes much sense for it to be a matter of hygiene. There are some texts which explain how women were almost house-arrested during their period because they had to carry clay trays under them to collect the blood. It is no wonder that socially they were then not as active as men.
July 4, 2007 at 10:58 pm
I find the hadith where the Prophet pbuh asked Aisha to go into the Mosque and fetch him something when she had her period very telling. She replied that she was menstruating and he said to her “It is not on your hands”.
July 6, 2007 at 1:11 am
This: “For Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean” made me think of Adam and Eve, of the idea that Eve was inconstant in her attention to God’s will.
Also I thought of the orthodox Jewish mikvah, where the woman is ritually cleansed after menstruation. It is thought that the immerison in the mikvah brings a spiritual element into the physical, and brings the woman close to God. (Which assumes a duality between physical/spiritual, earth/heaven, human/God.)
Of course, Jesus refuted these older ideas of “uncleanliness” when he said things like “What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean.’ ” Matt. 15:11.
I’m looking forward to learning more about the Quran!
July 6, 2007 at 10:52 am
I loved this one Achelois. My reading will seem almost school-like in comparison to yours! But thats why I love you! You rock
July 12, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Ah it was very good article. Thank you.
July 13, 2007 at 6:44 am
Achelois, I tried posting a post, but it has to be reviewed and published by you inshallah
July 14, 2007 at 8:18 am
Very good post and blog too.
October 14, 2008 at 10:58 am
Jazakuhumullah-hul-khair….I am reading Picktall’s translation of Quran. and I thought it was the most unbiased version. While I wanted to continue my study of Quran, I wanted to be sure whether I am permissable, i was doubted because not once I have read in Quran about women not allowed to touch Quran in their period. But your article has cleared all doubts