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Question Regarding Menstruation and Contraceptives

Published by Suhaib Webb September 6th, 2008 in General

The Question:
Assalaamu alaikum Imam Suhaib,

May Allah reward you for your efforts with this blog, and give you the strength to continue to be of benefit to young people like myself who spend way too much time online. I have a question related to your recent post regarding Ramadan rulings for women. What are the rulings related to a woman who is bleeding while on the pill (combined oral contraceptive pill)? Does the bleeding take the status of hayd or istihaadah? Technically speaking, the pill interferes with and interrupts the menstrual cycle such that the woman no longer goes through the natural menstrual cycle. As such, even though there is a regular pattern of bleeding for seven days, it is not a menstrual period per say but what is referred to as a “withdrawal bleed”. That is, there is no shedding of the uterine lining as would normally occur. Most of the online fataawa I could find regarding this assume that the bleeding is a menstrual period - I am not sure if this assumption has a shar’i justification or if it simply stems from a common misconception about the effect of the pill. Please let me know your opinion on this matter. A short post on this issue would also be of great assistance, not only to myself but also to other persons, since use of the pill is fairly common these days, and this issue of course relates to important matters of tahaarah/worship and intimacy as well.

May Allah reward you well and grant you forgiveness in this blessed month.

The Answer:

Asalamu alaykum,

Imam al-Dardir says in Sharh al-Saghir regarding the conditions of menstruation, that it “Flows on its own [natural process].” In addition he says, “That is yellow or brownish.” Thus, If the person is certain that this is not menstrual blood, then this blood is considered Istihada. Menstrual blood’s presence is what prohibits certain acts of worship and its absence makes them permissible. Thus, since the certainty is based on the absence of menstrual blood, then the sister is allowed to worship with no restrictions.

Allah knows best.

SDW

  • Umm Bilal
    Scholars have said that it is permissible to take medicine to delay menstruation, as long as it does not effect the woman's health.

    You can read the following for more information:

    http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pa...
  • Another sister
    Assalamo elikuim
    Also on the same note, is it permissible to take pill to delay menses so that one can fast without any break ? Sometimes its hard to keep the missed fast later.

    Jazak Allah khair
  • Asalamu alaykum,

    This answer should not be taken as a general one. The questioner clearly stated that the blood flow was not that of menses. Thus, if that is clearly established, then the ruling takes that of Istihadah. However, if one takes the pill and continues to have a menstrual cycle then the above does not apply.

    SDW
  • A Sister
    Salaam Alaikum,

    I'm a little bit confused by this post. Does this question and anwser imply that any sister on "the Pill" never gets a "normal" menstrual cycle and thus should not stop praying and fasting? It is my understanding there are different types of pills that function in different ways. I have been on the pill for over a year and have always had a normal cycle. The blood that comes is the same as it always was before I started on the pill. The only change is that they are shorter. Please clarify.

    JazakAllahuKhair
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