1. Are women allowed to perform Du'a or Dhikru Allah during the menstruation period?
During the monthly period women are not allowed to offer regular prayers and not to read the Qur'an. This does not mean that they are not allowed to say Du'a or to engage in the Remembrance of Allah, or to read Islamic literature.
However, the Maliki School is very liberal on this point. It differentiates between the man who is under obligation to purify himself and the woman who is in her monthly period. The man is able to become pure in a matter of minutes by having a bath, whereas the woman may remain impure so long as she discharges blood, perhaps up to five, six, or even seven days. She is permitted to read Qur'an to draw closer to Allah, but only at those times when she is not discharging and only after she has attained the ritual state of purity by bathing. That is, in between bouts of bleeding there is nothing to stop a woman from reading the Qur'an.
From this point-of-view, the period does not imply any impurity or blemish on innocence. On the contrary, it shows that Allah does not want to trouble the menstruating woman with the burden of regular prayers at a time of high anxiety and fatigue. Secondly, there is nothing to stop a woman remembering Allah in other ways such as Dhikr.
(17 - Women 1)
2. Can affectionate behaviour with one's spouse nullify ablution?
According to the Maliki, the Shafi'i, and the Hanbali schools, affectionate behaviour does nullify Wudhu. Imam Abu Hanifah is of the view that affectionate behaviour does not nullify the Wudhu unless there is great attraction with particular parts of the body - this is the only thing that nullifies the Wudhu.
(114 - Family Rrelations 5)
