Fiqh of Menstruation for Muslimahs during Ramadhan

”Is it not the case that when she gets her period, she doesn not pray or fast?” [Hadith from Sahih Bukhari]

Just some quick pointers for sisters on some fiqhi issues relating to Ramadhan. I am not a scholar or even a student of knowledge so I dont have extensive knowledge on this issue, just passing on what I was taught by one of my Shaykhs.

This is really important for Muslimahs to know the Fiqh of menstruation because many women are unfamiliar with the rulings relating to menstruation. The fuqaha mention that these rulings are personally obligatory (Fard Ain) for every Muslim sister to know. A sister who does not understand the fiqh of menstruation thus runs the risk of displeasing Allah SWT by leaving something that is obligatory or performing something that is unlawful.

• Menstruation

Blood at the time of menstruation has its own particular  characteristics (think, dark with a distinct smell). Period pain is considered a sickness and breaking the fast because of it is permissible.

• Defective bleeding

If blood comes out at a different time then the time of period and has its own characteristics (thin, light and with no distinctive smell). The ruling for this is that the lady fasts except if there is a large quantity of blood which then she must break her fast.

• If in doubt

If blood has come out during the regular period time then do not fast.

If the blood comes out in a time other than the period time then fast unless loads of blood has come out.

• Menstruating women & women in post-childbirth bleeding

When a woman sees menstrual blood has started to come out, her fast is invalid and she must make up for it even if its is a minute before maghrib prayer.

If the bleeding of a woman who is menstuating cease at night and she has the intention of fasting, then dawn comes before she makes ghusl, her fast is therefore valid by ijma (consensus) of the ulema (scholars).

A sister shouldnt (although its not haraam) take medication that stops her bleeding and just accept what Allah SWT has decreed for her: to abstain from fasting during her period and make up for it at a later stage just as the Ummahat Al-Mumineen (Mothers of the believers) used to do. If a sister does take medication that stops her period then she can fast and her fast is valid Insh’Allah.

It is Haraam for  menstruating women to fast (and pray for that matter), if a menstruating woman’s period stops in the middle of the day then she doesn’t need to fast for the remainder of the day but can make up for it at a later stage.

Brain teaser: A Muslimah has to make up the days she missed fasting in Ramadhan at a later stage but doesn’t need to make up her prayers that she missed. Now logically speaking in Islam there is a greater emphasis on prayer etc I mean it is the 1st question that we are held accountable for. But why do you think sisters don’t have to make up the salaah?

• The pregnant & breast feeding woman

If a pregnant woman fasts and fears for the safety of the foetus then she is allowed to break the fast but must feed one poor person per day and make up for it at a later date. This was the ruling of the sahabahs.

Same with a mother that is breast feeding, if she fears that the child will be harmed or that her breast milk will decrease then she is allowed to break the fast but must feed one poor person per day and make up for it at a later date.

But if either of them fear for their own-selves, they must make up the fast and do not have to feed any poor people. Subhan’Allah the Shariah is truly merciful, because it is from The Creator of the heavens & the earth Allah SWT.

For a more comprehensive series on the Fiqh of Menstruation then I recommend Ustadh Abu Talha’s CDs series called ‘Fiqh of Menstruation’ and also make Du’aa that we organize one here someday Insh’Allah. Note: FOSIS Ireland have his cds for sale too.

I hope this helps Insh’Allah. Any good from it is from Allah SWT who is solely due all praise, the mistakes are mine & shaytan’s.

Your brother who is need of du’aa,

Omar