Can a woman go to the Mosque for telling her children about prayers during her menstrual cycle?

According to the Qur'an, during menstruation, a woman is in a state of uncleanness. It is because of this reason that the Prophet (pbuh) directed women to miss their prayers during their menstruation cycle. Furthermore, as the Qur'an had expressly directed a person to avoid entering a mosque in a state of uncleanness (i.e. before taking a bath after sexual intercourse^[1]), such restriction was also considered to be applicable to a menstruating woman^[2], because of the similarity in the state of cleanness of a menstruating woman and a person who has not taken a bath after sexual intercourse. Thus, in view of its sanctity, Muslim scholars are of the opinion that a woman, under normal circumstances, should not enter a mosque, while she is in a state of menstruation.

Nevertheless, in the case of uncleanness due to sexual intercourse, the same verse^[3], which prohibits a person from entering a mosque, has also made an exception for those who have to use the mosque as a thoroughfare. In the light of this exception of the Qur'an, an exception may also be given for a menstruating woman, who has to enter a mosque for the purpose of education, teaching, or anything other than worship.

Thus, in the light of the foregoing explanation, I am of the opinion that even though a menstruating woman should generally avoid entering a mosque, under normal circumstances, yet if she has to do so for a purpose other than worship, she may do so.

23^rd June 2000