Ramadan for Muslim Women: A Complete Guide

Ramadan for Muslim Women: Maximizing Blessings & Guidance

How Should Muslim Women Spend Ramadan?

Soon the blessed month of Ramadan will be upon us, and joy fills the hearts of Muslims everywhere. The righteous servants of Allah eagerly await this month, and why wouldn’t they, for it is a month of goodness, blessings, forgiveness, divine favors, worship, asceticism, piety, humility, compassion, equality, charity, and the promise of paradise, along with deliverance from the fire of hell. We ask Allah to grant us all of these blessings in this holy month.

The fast of Ramadan, the Taraweeh prayer, charity, supplication, remembrance of Allah, Quran recitation, personal prayers, and Umrah, among other righteous deeds, are not just for men, but for women too. The reward and virtue of these acts that Allah bestows on men are equally available to women. However, many women tend to think that Ramadan is only for men, and their role is limited to preparing suhoor (pre-dawn meal) and iftar (meal for breaking the fast). While women fast, they often fall behind in performing other good deeds, and this is primarily due to a lack of awareness about the rules and matters of Ramadan. Just as fasting is obligatory upon men, it is equally obligatory upon women. And just as men should engage in abundant good deeds during Ramadan, so should women.

Recommended Practices for Muslim Women in Ramadan

Here, we will mention a few things that are commendable and desirable for a Muslim woman to do during Ramadan:

1. Striving in All Acts of Worship and Good Deeds: This includes reciting the Quran, reflecting upon it, giving charity, engaging in the remembrance of Allah, and striving in performing obligatory and voluntary acts of worship.
   
2. Breaking the Fast Promptly: The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
   لایزال الناس بخیر مَا عَجَّلُوا الفطر (Bukhari)
   “People will remain on the right path as long as they break their fast promptly.”
   This is also meant to oppose the practice of Jews and Christians, who delay their iftar.
   
3. Breaking the Fast with Fresh Dates:
   عن أنسٍ کان النبي ﷺ یفطر على رطباتٍ قبل أن يصلي، فإن لم يكن فعلى تمراتٍ، فإن لم تكن تمراتٍ حسا حسواتٍ من ماء (Ahmad, Abu Dawood, and Hasanah al-Albani)
   Translation: Anas (RA) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) would break his fast with fresh dates before praying, and if fresh dates were not available, he would use dry dates, and if those were unavailable, he would take a few sips of water.
   
4. Making Du’a at the Time of Iftar: Though du’a is encouraged at all times, there are specific times when du’a is more important, one of which is the time of iftar. A hadith says:
   ثلاثٌ لا تُرَدُّ دعوتُهُم، الإمامُ العادلُ، والصائمُ حين يُفطرُ، ودعوةُ المظلومِ (Sahih Tirmidhi: 2526)
   Translation: “Three people’s du’a is not rejected: the du’a of a just ruler, the du’a of a fasting person when they break their fast, and the du’a of the oppressed.”
   
5. Delaying the Suhoor (Pre-Dawn Meal): Fasting is valid even without suhoor, but the Prophet (ﷺ) himself used to eat suhoor and encouraged others to do so, saying, سَحَرُوا فَإِنَّ فِي السَّحُورِ بَرَکَةً (Muslim)
   Translation: “Eat the pre-dawn meal, for indeed there is blessing in suhoor.”
   The difference between our fasting and that of the People of the Book is the practice of suhoor.
   
6. Avoiding Bad Manners and Speech While Fasting: It is important to refrain from foul language and negative behavior during fasting. If someone insults or argues with you, respond by saying, إِنِّی صَائِمٌ (I am fasting).
   إذا أصبح أحدكم يومًا صائمًا، فلا يرفُثْ ولا يجهَلْ، فإنِ امرؤٌ شاتمَهُ أو قاتلَهُ فليقل: إني صائمٌ، إني صائمٌ (Sahih Muslim: 1151)
   Translation: “When one of you is fasting, he should avoid speaking obscenely or acting ignorantly. If anyone insults him or fights with him, let him say: ‘I am fasting.'”
   
7. Avoiding Falsehood and Deceit:
   من لم يدع قول الزور والعمل به، فليس لله حاجة في أن يدع طعامه وشرابه (Sahih Bukhari: 1903)
   Translation: “Whoever does not give up false speech and acts upon it, Allah has no need for him to leave his food and drink.”
   Women, like men, should guard their tongues, especially during Ramadan, since fasting is not just about abstaining from food and drink but also from sinful actions and words.
   
8. Feeding Others at Iftar: The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
   من فطَّرَ صائمًا كان له مثل أجره، غير أنه لا ينقص من أجر الصائم شيئًا (Sahih Tirmidhi: 807)
   Translation: “Whoever gives iftar to a fasting person will receive the same reward as the fasting person, without any reduction in the fasting person’s reward.”
   A woman can feed other women at iftar from her own funds, and if her husband invites others for iftar and she assists him, she will also receive the reward.
   
9. Performing Umrah: Just as men can perform Umrah in Ramadan, women can also perform it. The reward of performing Umrah in Ramadan is equal to the reward of Hajj. In another narration, it is mentioned that performing Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to performing Hajj with the Prophet (ﷺ).
   The Prophet (ﷺ) once told an Ansari woman:
   فإذا جاء رمضان فاعتمري، فإن عمرة فيه تعدل حجة (Sahih Muslim: 1256)
   Translation: “When Ramadan arrives, perform Umrah, for indeed an Umrah in this (Ramadan) is equal to Hajj.”
   
   However, a woman must travel for Umrah with a mahram (a male relative whom she is not allowed to marry), and performing Umrah without a mahram is prohibited. Additionally, for women and men traveling from outside Saudi Arabia, the difficulty of travel and the likelihood of missing other rewarding activities during Ramadan might make it more beneficial to stay in their own countries. But for those who plan to spend the entire month of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia, the reward of performing Umrah is much greater.
10. Using a Miswak (Tooth-stick): The practice of using a miswak was a regular habit of the Prophet ﷺ, and he used it frequently, especially during the month of Ramadan. ‘Amr ibn Rabi’ah (RA) says: رأيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يستاك وهو صائم مالا أحص أو أعد
    (Bukhari, narrating it as a disconnected Hadith)
    Translation: I saw the Prophet ﷺ using a miswak while he was fasting, more times than I could count or enumerate.This hadith was narrated by Imam Bukhari as a disconnected report.
    

Training Children to Fast: If a child is capable of fasting, they should be encouraged to fast habitually. Rabi’ah bint Mu’awidh (RA) says:
We used to make our children fast and keep toys for them. When the children cried for food, we would offer them those toys until it was time for Iftar.
(Bukhari)
In this hadith, the exemplary role of a mother is described, emphasizing that she should teach her children to fast.

 I’tikaf (Spiritual Retreat): Just as I’tikaf (spiritual retreat in the mosque) is recommended for men, it is also a recommended practice for women. It should be noted that the place for I’tikaf is only the mosque, as clarified in the Quranic verse, and the Prophet ﷺ demonstrated this practice. If a woman performs I’tikaf, she must do so in a mosque, whether it is a major (Jami’) mosque or a non-major one. The hadith that suggests I’tikaf should only be in a Jami’ mosque is debated. It is better to do I’tikaf in a Jami’ mosque to avoid the need to leave for Friday prayers.
I’tikaf is one of the important practices during Ramadan, and it is a confirmed Sunnah that the Prophet ﷺ consistently observed, especially in the last ten days of Ramadan. The evidence for this is the hadith of Abu Huraira (RA), who reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to perform ten days of I’tikaf every year during Ramadan, and in the year of his passing, he performed twenty days of I’tikaf.
(Bukhari)

 Taraweeh Prayer: In Saudi Arabia, women often come to the mosque to perform Taraweeh prayers in congregation. Taraweeh, which is also known as Qiyam-ul-Lail or Tahajjud, has great reward during Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ said:
من قام رمضانَ إيمانًا واحتسابًا ، غُفِرَ له ما تقدَّم من ذنبِه
(Sahih Muslim: 759)
Translation: Whoever stands in prayer during the nights of Ramadan, with faith and seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven.

Thus, women should also make an effort to perform Taraweeh prayers. If there is no separate arrangement for women at the mosque, they should pray Taraweeh in congregation at home or individually, praying eight rak’ahs of Taraweeh followed by three rak’ahs of Witr.

Seeking Effort on Laylat al-Qadr (The Night of Decree): The importance and virtue of Laylat al-Qadr is highlighted in an entire Surah, which indicates its immense value. The reward for worship on this night is the forgiveness of all previous sins.
مَن قام ليلةَ القدرِ إيمانًا واحتسابًا، غُفِرَ له ما تقدَّمَ من ذنبِه
(Sahih Bukhari: 1901)
Translation: Whoever spends the Night of Qadr in prayer, with faith and seeking reward, all their past sins will be forgiven.

Regarding the specific date of Laylat al-Qadr, scholars have differing opinions. However, the most reliable view is that it falls on one of the odd-numbered nights of the last ten days of Ramadan (21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, or 29th). This is supported by the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ:
تَحَرَّوْا ليلة القدرِ في الوِتْرِ، من العشرِ الأواخرِ من رمضانَ
(Sahih Bukhari: 2017)
Translation: Seek Laylat al-Qadr in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan.

Therefore, women should engage in night worship on these odd nights, striving to perform good deeds and seek forgiveness. The purpose is not just to stay awake but to actively engage in acts of worship and goodness.

Other Issues Related to Women in Ramadan:

1. Sick Woman’s Ruling: There are two types of sick women. The first is a woman who feels physical harm or pain due to fasting, or a woman who needs to take medicine during the day. She may break her fast and make up for the missed fast later. Allah says:
   فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ
   (Al-Baqarah: 184)
   Translation: And whoever among you is sick or on a journey, then they should fast a number of other days.

The second type includes those who have no hope of recovering from their illness, as well as elderly individuals who are incapable of fasting. For them, it is permissible to break the fast, and they must feed one poor person for every day they miss fasting, giving half a sa’ (approximately 1.5 kg) of wheat, rice, or similar food items. Allah says:
وَعَلَى الَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ
(Al-Baqarah: 184)
Translation: And upon those who are able to fast, they must give fidyah, which is feeding one poor person.

Note that minor ailments such as a cold or headache do not justify breaking the fast.

2. Traveling Woman’s Ruling: It is permissible for a traveler to break her fast during Ramadan, as Allah says:
   فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ
   (Al-Baqarah: 184)
   Translation: And whoever among you is sick or on a journey, then they should fast a number of other days.

If fasting during travel is not difficult, a woman may choose to fast while traveling. This is supported by the hadith where a companion asked the Prophet ﷺ about fasting during travel, and he ﷺ replied:
إن شئتَ صمتَ وإن شئتَ أفطرتَ
(Sunan an-Nasa’i: 2293)
Translation: If you wish, you may fast; if you wish, you may break your fast.

The traveler will make up for the missed fast later.

3. Menstruating and Postpartum Women’s Ruling: Women who are menstruating or in the postpartum period must break their fast until they are free from bleeding. Once the bleeding stops, they can resume fasting. Sometimes, a woman in the postpartum period may become clean before 40 days, in which case, she may begin fasting immediately. Blood other than menstruation and postpartum bleeding does not break the fast, and the fast should continue.
   
4. Nursing and Pregnant Women’s Ruling: A nursing mother or a pregnant woman may break her fast if she fears harm to herself or her child. However, if there is no harm, they should fast. This is in line with the hadith:
   إنَّ اللَّهَ عزَّ وجلَّ وضعَ للمسافرِ الصَّومَ وشطرَ الصَّلاةِ ، وعنِ الحُبلَى والمُرضِعِ
   (Sunan an-Nasa’i: 2314)
   Translation: Allah has exempted the traveler from fasting and half of the prayer, and also exempted the pregnant and nursing women from fasting.
   

If they break the fast due to valid reasons, they must make up the fast later. There is no mention of fidyah (compensation) for nursing or pregnant women.

5. Young Girl’s Fasting Ruling: As mentioned earlier, children should be trained to fast if they are capable. Once they reach puberty, fasting becomes obligatory. The Prophet ﷺ said:
   رُفِعَ القلمُ عن ثلاثةٍ: عنِ المجنونِ المغلوبِ على عقلِهِ حتَّى يُفيقَ، وعنِ النَّائمِ حتَّى يستيقظَ، وعنِ الصَّبيِّ حتَّى يحتلمَ
   (Sunan Abu Dawood: 4401)
   Translation: The pen is lifted from three: from the madman who loses his mind until he regains it, from the sleeping person until he wakes up, and from the child until he reaches puberty.

Some scholars suggest that children as young as ten years old should be encouraged to fast, as the hadith recommends disciplining children for abandoning prayer at ten. Regardless of age, if a child is capable of fasting, it is the guardian’s responsibility to encourage it.

6. Woman Who Deliberately Breaks Her Fast: A woman who deliberately breaks her fast

without any valid reason commits a major sin. She should repent sincerely and make up for the missed fast later. If she engages in intercourse while fasting, she must offer both the qada (make-up fast) and the kaffarah (expiation), which includes freeing a slave, fasting for two consecutive months, or feeding sixty needy people.

7. A Woman Who Does Not Pray: Just as fasting is one of the pillars of Islam, so is prayer. Without prayer, the fast has no value. The one who denies the obligation of prayer is outside the fold of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ said:
   العَهدُ الَّذي بيننا وبينهم الصَّلاةُ ، فمَن تركَها فَقد كَفرَ
   (Sunan at-Tirmidhi: 2621)
   Translation: The covenant between us and them is prayer; whoever abandons it has committed kufr (disbelief).

Therefore, the fast of someone who neglects prayer is not accepted. Her deeds will not be accepted unless she repents and returns to prayer.

May Allah grant us all the blessings of Ramadan and make this blessed month a means of our salvation. Ameen.

By Maqbool Ahmad Salafi
Islamic Dawah Center – Ta’if