Short answer
In the Hanafi school, no: a woman in her period may not recite the Quran aloud or under her breath, even less than a verse, and may not touch the mushaf without a separate cloth. She may read duas and dhikr, recite verses that are duas with the intention of dua, listen to the Quran and look at it.
Haram to recite the Quran with the intention of recitation, even part of a verse, and haram to touch a mushaf except through a separate cloth. Permitted: dhikr, dua, salawat, istighfar, Quranic duas with the intention of dua, listening, reading with the eyes without moving the tongue, and a teacher teaching word by word.
Other madhhabs
- Maliki
- A menstruating woman may recite the Quran from memory, because her state lasts long and she may forget; touching the mushaf is still forbidden.
Explanation
The Hanafi school treats menstruation, postnatal bleeding and janabah alike for the Quran. On the chosen view in the fatwa books, reciting even less than one verse with the intention of reciting Quran is not allowed. Touching the mushaf is also not allowed, based on the verse that none touch it except the purified. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools agree; the Maliki school allows recitation from memory.
What you can do:
- Dhikr and dua of every kind: SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, istighfar, salawat on the Prophet ﷺ, the morning and evening adhkar. See the dhikr list and duas.
- Quranic duas as dua, such as "Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah", with the intention of asking Allah, not reciting.
- Protection verses such as the last three surahs or Ayat al-Kursi, read with the intention of dhikr and protection; many Hanafi scholars allow this.
- Listen to recitation, and look at the text and read it in your mind without moving your tongue.
- Touch a translation or tafsir book where the commentary is more than the Arabic text, though many scholars advise care.
For a hafizah or a Quran teacher, the Hanafi texts allow teaching one word at a time, pausing between words, so classes need not stop. To keep your memorisation, listen and read with your eyes. See also reading Quran on your phone.
These days are not a break from Allah. The Prophet ﷺ told Aishah, when her period started during hajj, to do everything the pilgrims do except the tawaf. Use the time for dua and dhikr.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Waaqia 56:79
لَّا يَمَسُّهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱلْمُطَهَّرُونَ ﴿٧٩﴾
None touch it except the purified.
The basis for not touching the mushaf without purity.
Sahih al-Bukhari 305
Sahih... افعلي ما يفعل الحاج غير أن لا تطوفي بالبيت ...
"Do everything the pilgrim does, except do not circle the House until you are pure."
Shows that a menstruating woman keeps up dhikr, talbiyah and dua.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on menstruation. Reciting even less than a verse is forbidden on the chosen view; teaching word by word is allowed.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on menstruation. Quranic verses read with the intention of dua or praise are allowed.
- Mukhtasar Khalil with al-Sharh al-Kabir, Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on menstruation. Maliki: the menstruating woman may recite.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.