Can We Apply Henna During Periods?

It is permissible for a woman to put henna on her hands and nails during her menstrual period and at other times. Indeed, a number of the jurists regarded it as recommended for a woman to dye her hands with henna at the time of her menses, because then she does not need to remove the paste for the purpose of doing Wudu. 

It was narrated from `Alqamah that he used to tell his womenfolk to put on henna during their menstrual period. 

And it was narrated that `Ata’ (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “It is recommended for a woman to dye her hands with henna when she is menstruating.” (See: Musannaf Ibn `Ali Shaybah, 1/144) 

It says in Mawahib Al-Jalil, 1/200 (a Maliki book): Malik was asked about a woman who is menstruating or Junub using henna on her hands. He said: Yes, that is the time that women used to single out for that purpose, so that the dye would not need to be removed in order to do Wudu for prayers. End quote. 

In Al-Mawsu`ah Al-Fiqhiyyah (2/283) it says: 

“The majority of jurists are of the view that it is permissible for a menstruating women to use henna, because it was narrated that a woman asked `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) about that, saying: Can a menstruating woman dye (her hands) with henna? She said: We were with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and we used to dye our hands, and he did not tell us not to do that. And because it is narrated that the womenfolk of Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to dye their hands with henna when they were menstruating. Ibn Rushd (may Allah have mercy on him) said: There is no difference of opinion that it is permissible for women who are menstruating or in a state of major impurity to dye their hands with henna, because the colour on the hands that results from it does not impede the removal of the state of major impurity and menses by means of Ghusl when she does Ghusl. And there is no basis for the view that it is disliked.” 

The Hadith of `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) mentioned above was narrated by Ibn Majah (656) and classed as authentic by Al-Busayri in Az-Zawa`id and by Al-Albani in Sahih Ibn Majah. 

To sum up, there is nothing wrong with applying henna during one’s menses, and what your husband heard is not correct. There is no basis for regarding that as disliked, let alone prohibited.

For more details, please see the following answers: 150424 , 70438 , 2564 , and 7852 .

And Allah knows best.