Fasting and Menstruation: A Guide for Muslim Women

Understanding the Rules of Fasting During Menstruation

Fasting and Feminine Issues

1.QUESTION

What happens if I get my period during the day while fasting?

 If you get your meals ANY time during the day, your fast gets invalidated. 

That’s because we’re supposed to fast from dawn to Maghrib for the ENTIRE day. 

We cannot fast ‘part’ of the day. 

And once the menses start, it’s haram too fast. 

Imaan an-Nawawi said: 

“The ummah is unanimously agreed that it is haraam for women who are menstruating or bleeding following childbirth to fast and that their fast is not valid…” [al-Majmoo’ (2/386)]

2.QUESTION

I heard that if you get your period AFTER 12 pm or midday, then your fast is valid. Is that correct?

No, that’s not correct. There’s NO PROOF from the Sharee’ah to claim something like that. Even if you get your period A FEW MINUTES BEFORE MAGHRIB, the fast is invalidated. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“If a woman menstruates when she is fasting, her fast is invalidated even if that is a moment just before sunset, and she has to make up that day if it was an obligatory fast.”

[al-Dima’ al-Tabee’iyyah li’l-Nisa’ (p.28)]

3.QUESTION

What if my period finishes around fajr time?

If your period finishes at night up until ANY time BEFORE Fajr, you HAVE to fast that day, even if you become pure a FEW minutes before Fajr. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“If the menstruating woman becomes pure before dawn, even if it is one minute before, but she is certain that she is pure, and that is during Ramadan, then she must fast, and her fast on that day will be valid and she does not have to make it up…”

(Fataawa Ramadan, p. 345)

4.QUESTION

What if my period finishes in the morning but AFTER sunrise. Can I fast that day?

In this situation, the fast is NOT valid because in order for a fast to be valid, it has to last from DAWN to SUNSET. 

But once you’re done with the period, even though the FAST is not valid that day, the PRAYERS are still obligated. So you should take a bath whenever you’re pure and then offer the prayers that are left for the remainder of the day. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“If dawn comes when the woman is menstruating, it is not valid for her to fast that day even if she becomes pure even a moment after dawn.”

5.QUESTION

Can I DELAY my ghusl till after fajr?

Yes if your menses ends before fajr, but there’s not enough time for you to make ghusl before Fajr, you can make the intention to fast and then take the purification bath later, after Fajr adhan. But be sure to hurry up and not delay your ghusl too long because you don’t want to miss the Fajr prayer. 

Similarly, you can delay your purification bath after having intimacy with your husband until after fajr if there’s no time to take the ghusl earlier. But you should have your INTENTION to fast BEFORE Fajr. 

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:

“If she becomes pure just before dawn and fasts, her fast is valid even if she does not do ghusl until after dawn. This is like the one who is junub – if he intends to fast when he is junub and does not do ghusl until after dawn breaks, his fast is valid, because of the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah radhi Allaahu anhaa who said: The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam used to wake up junub as the result of intercourse, not a wet dream, and he would fast in Ramadan.” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)”

6. QUESTION

Do I have to wait for 7 days before making ghusl, although my period ended in 5 days or earlier?

No you’re supposed to make ghusl as soon as you’re sure that your period has ended. 

It is sinful if we delay the ghusl for no reason. 

Some women have their period for 4 or 5 days, some 7, some 9 or 10 or even more or less. 

Each woman is different and each has to judge for herself when her period ends. 

Then she should make ghusl as soon as she is pure.

Jᴜsᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ;ɪᴛ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ 10 ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇs ….

And ALLAH knows Best!