Some Ramadan Rulings for Women
By Sh. Muhammad al-Hassan Wali al-Dido al-Shanqiti | Translated by Suhaib Webb
[I begin] with the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Exerciser of Mercy. I send prayers and salutations upon the one brought out as a mercy to everything, his family, companions and whoever follows his guidance and his way until the Last Day.
Indeed, women are distinguished with several specific rulings [in Islamic law]. That is because the Shari’ah rulings are built on consideration of differences between individuals, kindness and gentleness. Allah [The Exalted] says:
“He [Allah] did not place upon you, in the religion [Islam], any hardship.”
The 7 mushaqa [hardships]:
There is a universal maxim, from the major maxims of Shari’ah, which states “Hardship brings ease.” Thus, if something causes difficulties for people, then Allah [The Exalted] lifts the obligation of its observance and removes its hardship. For that reason, the scholars mentioned the precepts of hardship [meaning the applicability of this maxim] as: sickness, weakness, insufficiency, abundance, traveling, indecisiveness and fear. These precepts [if present] will lead to hardship. Thus, if any one of them presents themselves, the Shari’ah takes it into consideration [by assigning it a ruling that relieves its burden].
Women are presented with a number of issues that meet the requirements of hardship [as designated by the precepts above] such as pregnancy, nursing, menstruation and irregular vaginal blood flow [menorrhagia]. If one of these four issues presents itself, it influences the rulings related to purity, prayer and fasting. We plan, Inshallah, to spend some time discussing these issues and the relevant rulings related to them and fasting in light of these precepts.
The first issue menstruation:
If a woman menstruates before the commencement of Ramadan [meaning she enters into the month on her menses] then she must not fast until she is absolutely certain that she is pure. This purity is ascertained by two means: dryness in the place of her menses, or a clear white liquid which comes at the end of her cycle. If she becomes certain that her menses have stopped during the night then she is obligated to fast the next day. However, if she has doubts [regarding the end of her cycle], then the consideration is given to her established state, menstruation, and fasting is not an obligation upon her until she is sure of its cessation. On the other hand, if the opposite holds true, she is pure and has doubts about her cycle starting, then such a doubt is not taken into consideration because it is a doubt related to something which prevents [in this case fasting]. Thus, consideration is given to the established ruling that it is obligatory for her to fast, since her purity is what is certain.
If a woman menstruates during the day time, and she is sure of her menses, then the ruling [that allows her to break her fast] is applied because menstruation breaks the fast and prevents its observance. However, it is an obligation for her to make up [the days she missed from fasting due to her menses]. Thus, the menstruating woman is obliged to make up the days of fasting [that she missed] but not the prayers. This is established by the sound narration of ‘Aisha who said, “We were ordered to make up the fast [of Ramadan] but not the prayers.” This [report] makes clear that it is an obligation to make up the fasting days in which a menstruating woman breaks her fast and that it is not obligatory upon her to make up the prayers she missed [due to her menses]. The difference between the two is that prayers are a common occurrence [five times a day] where as fasting is not [once a year for 29 or 30 days]. This profusion related to prayers is considered from one of the precepts mentioned earlier, abundance, and since the number of prayers, that are obligatory upon her and which she missed are so many then, it is not an obligation upon her to make them up, because of the hardship incurred due to their large quantity unlike fasting.
The nature of women is different when it comes to the strength of their menses. The Prophet [May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him] made clear that the longest normal time period for a woman’s menses is either six, or seven, days, and that there are some women whose menses will be less, and some whose menses will be longer. If it is the first time a woman has experienced menstruation, then her purity is established by either her becoming dry, or the appearance of a white fluid that comes at the end of her menses. And if the woman has menstruated before, then she is considered as one who has developed a natural pattern regarding her cycle. However, it must be noted that there is a difference amongst the scholars regarding how many times she should have menstruated before her cycle is considered a means to measure her menses. Some of the scholars hold that she should have menstruated at least three times. Thus, if she menstruates three times consecutively within a three month span, then she will know the strength of her menses because of her experience. However, if she menstruates once, or twice, without reaching three consecutive times, then according to those scholars the measurement of her cycle cannot be known. It is said that it is sufficient for her to menstruate only once. Meaning, if she menstruates and discovers that the norm of her cycle is seven days or six days and that her purity comes in the morning or the evening, then this measurement is taken into consideration.
It is possible that a woman’s cycle could start at anytime during the day. However, it is not obligatory for her to check her menses at night before sleeping. However, when she awakes in the morning if she checks and finds that the area of her menses is dry, then it is obligatory for her to fast. And if she still sees some discharge then she is considered on her cycle and she will stay in that condition until she is absolutely sure that her cycle has ceased. However, if her habit is to end her menses with a white clear discharge, then she should wait for it because it is the sign of her purity and considered more accurate then dryness [this was the opinion of Abdu al-Rahman bin Qasim see Hashiyat al-‘Adawi ‘ala Risalah Abi Zaid al-Qayrawani. SDW]. With that in mind, it is possible that she could rely upon dryness regarding fasting. Thus, if she discovers that she is dry and the white discharge [that signifies the end of her menses] has not come before dawn, then it is possible for her to fast and, after that, if she experiences the white discharge, it will not damage her fasting. And if her menses stops during the night, and she fasts and experiences discharge after the evening prayer, then her fast, for that day, was sound as it was considered a day free of menses. However if she awakes pure, begins her fast and then experiences her menses again during the day, then she must break her fast and make up that day.
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it
RSS Feed
Asalam Aleikum
2:128] “Our Lord, make us submitters to You, and from our descendants let there be a community of submitters to You. Teach us the rites of our religion, and redeem us. You are the Redeemer, Most Merciful.
Ameen
Jzkheri May Allah S.w.t reward you and your family for all the effort you make to share the knowledge of Islam.
WE NEED MORE POSTS LIKE THIS ONE!!!!
I just love the way he connects the maxims to the specifics and brings nass where necessary similar to what Sh Bin Bayyah does.
Thanks for this post. Subhanallah, I had some urgent questions about such issues and your post just answered them! Keep them coming!
Salam alaykum jazakhallah khairan for this post.. i hope other sisters find it as beneficial as i did.
like ‘Haq’ said WE NEED MORE POSTS LIKE THIS
ramadan kareem
Thank you for this post! Alhamdulillhah.
JazakAllah khayr Shaykh!
This may be a tall order, but could you give some advice as to what sisters should do on the days they are not fasting? And explain any touchy fiqh issues (like is she allowed to recite Qur’an from a computer instead of holding a mushaf, or can she stay up and do other ibaadah in the last 10 nights)?
BarakAllah feek
JazakAllahu Khair.
I have been trying for some time to make resources such as this available for sisters over the internet, my knoweldge is limited and my reach very short.
ma’assalama
I was wondering what the ruling is on when women experiencing a longer than usual menses. Say over 2 weeks.
From what i have read and learned through my research is that one of The strong opinion is that if it goes beyond 10 days then the time beyond the tenth day will be like any other, meaning she should make ghusl and then start praying like usual, because it is deemed to be abnormal bleeding at that point.
I am also interesting in knowing the opinion regarding the reading of the Quran while a woman is menstruating. I have been researching this of late, as I was taught that one should never read Quran while menstruating, however in the are I live I see that most women still read the Quran.
What about a woman who is nursing? Does she have to fast? If it is too difficult for her does she have to make up the 30 days later? and does she have to pay fidya?
According to my understanding from Fiqh Al-sunnah my wife had to pay Fidya if she was planning on going the whole year (Ramadan to Ramdan) breastfeeding. So last Ramadan we fed 30 people (a person a day) and this year she is still breastfeeding so we're going to do the same inshallah. If I recall correctly the stipulation for paying Fidya instead of making up the fast was breastfeeding for the whole year in between the Ramadans. Wallahu Alam (Allah knows best).
Nomad78
I’m also curious about the Quran issue. I heard women are allowed to read translation and tafsir of Quran, but not recite.
salaam,
i agree with some of the above posts which state that we need more posts like this!! MANY MORE PLEASE!! also Zaynab above mentioned discussing fiqh issues such as if we can read quran, pleease address that
As salaamu alaykum,
May Allah(swt) have mercy on me for my wording and forgive me for any wrongdoing.
I was wondering what a women should do if she is in a state of fasting from fajr to just before asr (4:45pm), and she notices a very slight sliver of bright red discharge from her awrah, is it considered that her menstruation has started and her fast is broken? then the same day at asr (5:30pm) she checks again and there is no discharge of any color of red from her awrah, does this mean her menstruation has not started and that her fast is still continuing?
In this specific situation the sister does not have what many women call a “normal cycle”, some months her cycle is longer and occur later in the month and some months her cycle is shorter and earlier in the months, and occurrence of when in the month her cycle occurs varies often. Her menstruation is also not characterized by dark brown blood at the beginning but rather bright blood and then darker red to maroon colored blood towards the middle of the cycle then weening off to a dirty red-brown colored discharge towards then end. The sister is also having doubt of when to cease being in a state of ritual impurity as she does not experience this white discharge at the end of the cycle and as mentioned she experiences discharge that is brown and then eventually yellow at the end days of her cycle. The sister also experiences clear mucus like discharge that sometimes has tinges of yellow throughout the month, does she then need to do ghusl each time she experience this?
Please can you guide me as to when should she consider the beginning of her menstruation and the end? And when she is in ritual impurity what acts of worship from the Shafi School perspective is she not allowed to perform, as she is a new practicing muslim and is currently trying to learn the adab of one School at the time. Can she read the English translation of the Quran which also has arabic in it or is she forbidden to do this?
Again, I ask for Allah(swt) to forgive me if I have been to open in the matter and if I have committed any sins and wrongdoings.
I apologize for any wrongdoings and for soo many questions, please forgive me.
Barak’Allah feek,
May Allah(swt) reward you for your help and efforts.
Wa alaykum salaam,
Your sister in islam.
Salaam
JazakAllah for the post.
I just want to clarify, when it says “clear” – you mean when the bleeding stops *and* there’s no discharge?
:S
Also I’ve heard the 10 day thing as well, as Umm Bilal said.
What if the actually bleeding stops but the discharge stays until day 9/10/11 – does this mean its still a period and the 10 day rule should be followed, or should you purify yourself when the bleeding stops.
(This may be a stupid Q to ask here but…) If the cycle is like this everytime – i.e discharge doesn’t become clear until day 10/11, should the person see a doctor, or is it fine, since its always like this?
woops, my Q is pretty similar/same as muslimah above, apart from the irregular cycle. Sorry, should’ve read.
My menses is staying for 8 days, but very little. May I continue Siam & Salat.
Salam, my Q is in regards to the statement “if she discovers that she is dry and the white discharge [that signifies the end of her menses] has not come before dawn, then it is possible for her to fast and, after that, if she experiences the white discharge, it will not damage her fasting.”
I’m not sure if I will get my answer in time but my question is, I wont have access to a shower because of being at work during the night…if I encounter the above situation (in quotations) while at work, can I still make the niyya to fast and then shower when I get home after fajr? Will my fast count for that day?
Salams all – my q is that I am on my periods and today is the third day. it is said that if periods id three days or less it is as a disease. so should i fast this day or and lesave for full three days and then if i see nothing i should dstart fasting.
Answer to sister: if you are pure and had a bath and during the day you have experienced discharge(depending on the colour, if clear) then if possible have a bath and then continue your fast and namaz . To the second question – yes you can come home and shower and continue your fast
Hope this has answered your question.
reply to jahan: It is said that if more then 10 days then you can continue your namaz and salat. if you have entered your 8th day and still continuing i suggest you wait 10 days and if still continue then have ghusl and then start your fast and salat.
ghif&Muslimah: if bleeding stops then you are to have ghusl and start praying. It is not necessary one has discharge after her periods if depend and varies person to person. if certain discolouration in the discharge then it means that you still be on your periods but as I said if it continues till 10 days then it is allowed to do ghusl and pray your salats
Any more question do not hesitate to ask
Thanks alot for this post!!!
it is very helpful.
is it mendatory to leave atleast 5 rozas during menses? even if your periods stops before 5 days?
Thanks alot..
and Keep going!
what about if your fasting and its 2/3 hours before the fast opens and you get your period, what do you do, break your fast or keep the hours that are left?
salaam, i finished my periods like a week ago and now i am making up my missed fasts during ramadan and i started bleeding again (spotting), i am confused whether my fast counts or i have to make up again. jazakallah khair