[الطامعة في رضا ربها]

It is permissible for the menstruating women to read the books of tafseer

Q. I read some books of tafseer whilst in a state of impurity, such as the monthly period for example. So is there any blame on me for this? And is there any sin upon me for this? Please give me an answer, may Allah reward you with good.

A. There is no blame on a menstruating or post-natal bleeding woman in reading books of tafseer. Neither is there any blame in reading the Qur'an without actually touching it. This is the more correct of the two saying of the scholars on this topic. As for the junub person, then he or she is not allowed to read the Qur'an at all until a bath is taken. However, a junub person is allowed to read books of tafseer, Hadith and other topics without reading the verses that are contained within them. This is based on a Hadith from the Messenger of Allah that nothing used to prevent him from the Qur'an except the state of janaabah. There is a narration from the Messenger of Allah that he said:
"As for the junub, then no, not even a verse."
This is part of a Hadith recorded by Imams Muslim and Ahmed with a good chain of narrators.

Shaykh 'Abdul 'Aziz ibn Baaz