3/1. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 293a — Menstruation and Intimacy
Touching a menstruating woman above the izar (waist wrapper)
Menstruation and Intimacy in Islam: Waist-Wrapper Hadith
Sahih Muslim : 293a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 293a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ كَانَ إِحْدَانَا إِذَا كَانَتْ حَائِضًا أَمَرَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَتَأْتَزِرُ بِإِزَارٍ ثُمَّ يُبَاشِرُهَا .
A'isha Narrated from:
When anyone amongst us (amongst the wives of the Holy Prophet) menstruated, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked her to tie a waist-wrapper over her (body) and then embraced her.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 293aIn-book reference : Book 3, Hadith 1USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 3, Hadith 577
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 293a
This hadith about menstruation and intimacy in Islam reports a private household practice from A’isha. She said that when one of the Prophet’s wives was menstruating, the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked her to tie a waist-wrapper over her body and then embraced her. The text is specific. It mentions menstruation, the waist-wrapper, and embracing. It does not describe anything beyond that. The teaching is gentle and balanced: menstruation did not mean complete emotional distance, while the report also shows a clear boundary through the waist-wrapper. For readers, the safest explanation is to stay with what A’isha narrated.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked for a waist-wrapper during menstruation.
- The narration mentions embracing after that covering.
- Menstruation did not mean total distance in this report.
- The text also shows a clear physical boundary.
