Salaam. I have a question regarding mensturating women. I've had heard from many adults that a mensturating women shoudn't go near, or let's their shadows go over a sick person recovering from illness etc. for example after my nephew was circumcised, I was told by elders in the family women who are mensturating shouldn't show the baby affection or let their shadows pass over him as it could cause pain and delay of healing? Is there any proof of this in quran or Hadith? I find it strange that women close to the baby cannot love or care for the child for days due to what seems like an old wives tale? Is there authenticity to not go near sick children or adults whilst women are in their menses? I've also heard this is part of Hindu culture that's it said shadows can endanger newborns. Please Clarke JazakA.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

There is no doubt that this is a bizarre superstition circulated by laymen, and it is a misconception and a belief in bad omens. This is the practice of the people of ignorance and polytheism, and Muslims must beware of believing in such things. It is not permissible to consider something as a cause in a particular matter if the religion has not specified it as a cause for that matter.

One must know that benefit and harm are in the Hands of Allaah alone and that such matters do not have any effect. Mu‘aawiyah ibn Al-Hakam As-Sulami said: "O Messenger of Allaah, there are people among us who believe in evil omens. Thereupon, the Prophet said: "This is a feeling that they find in their hearts; it should not deter them." [Muslim]

Ibn Mas‘ood narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "The omen consists of idolatry" – and he repeated this three times – "and each and every one of us has this feeling but Allaah drives it away from us by Tawakkul (relying on Him)." [At-Tirmithi: Hasan Saheeh (good or sound)]

The Hindus are a polytheistic nation, so it is not surprising that they have such misconceptions and superstitions; this is indeed evidence of the blessing of Tawheed (Islamic monotheism) which liberates the minds from superstitions.