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Fatwa CenterWhat is permissible for a menstruating woman after purity and before Ghusl
Question
What are the three things that a menstruating woman can do after cessation of blood and before making Ghusl (shower taken in case of major impurity)?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Imaam An-Nawawi 
mentioned – in details – what is permissible, for a menstruating woman, to do after cessation of blood and before making Ghusl . Having mentioned the forbidden things during menstruation, he said:
The Shaafi‘i scholars said that when menstruation stops, fasting, divorce, and Thihar (to say to your wife that she is like your mother's back, which is a form of divorce that is not allowed in Islam) will no longer be forbidden. She is also allowed to pass through the Masjid, according to the sound opinion, if we adopted the opinion that it is prohibited during menstruation. We mentioned – before – an opinion by Al-Mawardi and Imaam Al-Haramayn that passing through the Masjid remains forbidden until she makes Ghusl.
Things which are forbidden for ritual impurity, such as prayer, Tawaaf (circumambulating the Ka‘bah), prostration, recitation of the Quran, I‘tikaf (ritual seclusion in the mosque), touching the Mus-haf (copy of the Quran) and staying in the Masjid, however, remain forbidden (until she makes Ghusl). Having sexual intercourse and enjoying what is between the navel and the knee is still forbidden as well. If there is no water and alternatively she made Tayammum (dry ablution), all the aforementioned things are permitted because Tayammum is the alternative for Ghusl.
Consequently, a menstruating woman – after cessation of blood and before making Ghusl, while she is able to make Ghusl – is allowed to do several things, including fasting, passing through the Masjid (given the opinion of those who consider it forbidden) as well as making divorce and Thihar effective. If there is no water or she is unable to use it and she performed Tayammum, everything which was forbidden due to the ritual impurity becomes permissible, since Tayammum is the alternative for Ghusl.
Allaah Knows best.
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