Title: Directives for a Menstruating Woman Question: I have read the whole Qur'an and nowhere in the Qur'an is written that women can't pray and fast during menstruation. There are some verses in the Qur'an which give the condition under which salat can't be performed for example after sexual orgasm one has to bathe. There's not a single verse in the Qur'an where women are commanded not to pray when menstruating. So if it's not in the Qur'an then where does this law come from? It was a very important command. I don't understand how could God forget to give such an important command. Please reply as soon as you can. Sarah Sheikh Answer: The Qur'an has, in fact, mentioned the fact that during menstruation, women are in a state of uncleanness ( Al-Baqarah 2: 222). This reference of the Qur'an, combined with the fact that menstruating women, even during the pre-Islamic times were considered unfit for all acts of worship, as a part of the Abrahamic tradition of religion, is the reason that the Qur'an has not felt the need for giving the directives, which you have referred to. Due to the reason stated above, the Qur'an has not mentioned the detailed directives for women, during the days of their menstruation. These directives are a part of the teachings that form a part of the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) [1] . Regards. August 27, 2001 [1] For further details regarding the Sunnah of the Prophet and for the difference between Hadith & Sunnah, you may refer to the section titled: " Sunnah of the Prophet ".