Question
Surah 2:222 tells me to not be joined by her..joined by her would refer to relations (having sex). But it doesn’t say that a woman is unable to pray. There are products that prevent liquids from flowing through-sorry to be graphic with that sentence.
So my question is could surah 2:222 be referring to men not having sex with their wives while she is menstruating? The ayat before that one talks about marrying 2:221.
Answer
It is true that Al Baqarah 2:222 is related to refraining from sexual intercourse while menstruating; however, the reason given is because the woman is in the process of discharging the impurities from her body (i.e. in the process of cleansing). When we approach God we are to be in a purified state and the aforementioned condition is in the process of cleansing and is not yet complete. Therefore, formal prayers should not be performed. Stopping the discharge is not the issue in this case because it is about a state of being. As mentioned in previous answers, it is the condition of impurity that precludes a menstruating woman from praying. Keep in mind that this is explicitly established in the Sunnah.
I hope this helps.
God knows best.