25 Advisory opinions (fatwa) for women in Ramadan

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon his prophets and messengers, our prophet Mohammed, his family and companions.

After that;

This is an assortment of legitimate religious Muslim advisory opinions related to fasting and we ask Allah that they would be beneficial for all our believer sisters, and we hope they would be helpful to them in satisfying Allah in that generous precious month.


The obligation of fasting

Question: When a girl is supposed to fast?

Answer: A girl must fast when she reaches the age of puberty and complete adulthood, and this occurs by reaching the age of 15 years old, or either by growing up of coarse hair around her genitals, by ejaculation, by menstruation, or by pregnancy.

When some of these signs happen to her, she has to fast then even if she is only 10 years old.

Since lot of girls may menstruate at the age of 10 or 11,but their family still thinks she's still young, and fasting is no duty or obligation for her yet, but this is wrong since a girl is considered to be already an adult woman as soon as she menstruates , and Allah knows better.
[Ibn Jabreen, Islamic fatawas]


Question: A 12 or 13 years old girl who missed the fasting of Ramadan, so what should she or her family do about that? Does she have to fast it? And if she fasts it, does she still have any sin about it?

Answer: women are burdened and commissioned if they accomplish these 3 conditions: being a Muslim, being sane, and reaching puberty.

Puberty occurs by menstruation, or having wet dreams, growing up of coarse hair around her genitals, or reaching the age of 15 years old.

If a girl has accomplished those 3 conditions, then she is obliged to fast, and she has to compensate for the legacy of fasting at the time of commissioning.

If any condition of the previous ones doesn't exist, then she doesn't have to do anything.
[The temporary committee: Islamic fatawa]


Question: Is it considered as a sin if a woman does her prayers while being on menstruation, just out of shyness and embarrassment of her family?

Answer: This is certainly wrong, and there is no shyness or embarrassment in such an issue, since menstruation is something that God has given to all women, and a menstruating woman has been prevented from fasting and praying.

So, this woman who fasted during menstruation just out of shyness has to fast these days again when her menstruation is over, and she must not do that again, and Allah knows better.
[Ibn Jabreen: al lolo al- makeen]


Question: A woman has reached the age of puberty and she didn't fast out of shyness and embarrassment, and after a year, the new Ramadan has come and she still has not fasted the former one, so what is she supposed to do?

Answer: she has to fast the former Ramadan even if not successively, she also has to give charity for a poor person for everyday she has not fasted; that is because God says:" And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew." [Al-Baqara 2:184]

Transliteration: Wa `Alá Al-Ladhīna Yuţīqūnahu Fidyatun Ţa`āmu Miskīnin Faman Taţawwa`a Khayrāan Fahuwa Khayrun Lahu Wa 'An Taşūmū Khayrun Lakum 'In Kuntum Ta`lamūna

And it is about a bushel for each single day, this is because she has to fast it at its exact time.

That is because when a woman menstruates, she has to fast.
[Ibn Jabreen,al-lolo al-makeen]


Question: I am a 25 years old girl, but I have not prayed nor fasted till I reached 21 just out of laziness and my parents used to advise me but I did not care about it. Now after I knew I was wrong, what am I supposed to do?

Answer: Repentance deletes whatsoever before it, so you have to repent and perform lots of supererogatory acts like prayers at day and night, volunteer fasting, and reading the holly Quraan, and Allah accepts the repentance of his slaves and forgives sins.


Question: some women take medications to stop their menstruation in Ramadan on purpose, so that they won't have to fast that later on, so is that acceptable? Are there any restrictions for that to prevent those women of doing so?

Answer: I see that they should not do so since this monthly period has a divine wisdom before it, this wisdom is suitable for the nature of women, and if it is prevented this will harm them -women's body- no doubt; the prophet Mohammed said:" Do no harm to yourselves or others" [Narrated by Abdullah Ibn Abbas, Ebada Ibn El-Samet and delcalared authentic by Al-Albany]

Also these medications are harmful for the womb as mentioned by the doctors.

So, if a woman is at her period, she hast to stop praying and fasting, and if her period is over, she hast to get back to them and if Ramadan ends, then she hast to fast what she had missed.
[Ibn Othaymeen: Islamic fatawa]


Question: is it permissible for me to take pills to prevent the menstruation at the end of the month of Ramadan to be able to resume fasting?

Answer: it is permissible to take medications to prevent the menstruation, if the intention was good, such as prayers in congregation, reading the holly quraan, so there is nothing wrong about taking those meds, but if the purpose was to resume fasting, so that she won't have to do that fasting later on, so I don't think is good.
[Ibn Jabreen: the fasting fatawa]



The fasting of menstruating women or women at puerperium

Question: if a woman menstruates, can she eat and fast other days instead of those days she had eaten?

Answer: A menstruating woman should not fast and it is unacceptable for her to do so. If she menstruates, then she eats and she has to fast those days after her menstruation is over.
[The permanent committee: Islamic fatawa]


Question: if a woman's menstruation is over just before the dawn, then does she have to fast?

Answer: If the blood stops at a late night of Ramadan, then she can eat, intend to fast, but her prayers are unacceptable until she washes up and she can't have intercourse until she washes up as well, since Allah (SWT) says:" And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allah has ordained for you. Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves."[Al-Baqara 2:222]

Transliteration: Fa'idhā Taţahharna Fa'tūhunna Min Ĥaythu 'Amarakumu Allāhu 'Inna Allāha Yuĥibbu At-Tawwābīna Wa Yuĥibbu Al-Mutaţahhirīna
[Ibn Jabreen: the fasting fatawa]


Question: if a woman is purified just after the dawn immediately, does she has to fast that day and it is considered and rendered as a fasting day for her or she hast to fast it later on?

Answer: if the bleeding stops, at the time of dawn, or shortly before it, then her fasting is valid, even if she couldn't wash up until dawn has risen up.
But if bleeding persists till after dawn, then she can't fast that day and she will have to fast it later after Ramadan is over, and Allah knows better.
[Ibn Jabreen: the fasting fatawa]


Question: If a woman is purified during day, does she have to stop eating for the rest of the day?

Answer: if she becomes pure of menstruation or puerperium during the day, then she stops eating for the rest of the day, but she still have to fast it later on, since her stoppage of time is for the sanctity of time, and she has to make them up since she hadn't completed her fasting, and fasting only one half of a day is not considered as a complete fasting.
[Ibn Jabreen: the fasting fatawa]


Question: my periods fluctuate between 7 to 8 days and sometimes I just can't see any blood or even purification at the seventh day, so what are the rules for prayers, fasting and sexual intercourse in this case?

Answer: do not rush until you see the white cloth which is the sign of purity that women know of, since the stoppage of blood is not the sign of purity, but that is the white cloth and the expiry of the usual time of the normal period,
[Ibn Baz]


Question: what are the rules for the blood coming out at days other than the monthly period? Since my monthly period is 7 days long, but sometimes blood comes out at other days and it keeps flowing for about 1 or 2 days, so do I have to fast and pray during these days, or do I have to make it up later on?

Answer: this excessive blood is venous blood that is not considered to be a part of menstruation.

The woman who recognizes and knows well of her period keeps that period without fasting, praying, touching the holly quraan, nor having any sexual vaginal intercourse with her husband.

Then when she purifies and her period is over; she washes up and she is then pure, and if she sees any blood or yellowish color, so this does not prevent her from her prayers and so on.
[Ibn Baz]


Question: if I had a child birth about a week before Ramadan and I was purified before I complete 40 days, so do I have to fast?

Answer: yes, when a woman at puerperium is purified and she comes come across what is known at the sign of purity which is the white cloth, then she can fast and pray even if it was only one day or one week after her child birth, since there is no minimal time for the puerpeium because some women don't see any blood flowing following their child births at all and the expiry of 40 days is never a condition.

Also, if the blood persists to flow after 40 days without any change, then it is considered as puerperal blood that obliges her to abandon both fasting and prayers, and Allah knows better.
[Ibn Jabreen: the fasting fatawa]


Question: if a puerperal woman purifies before 40 days, can she fast and pray or not?
If she has her menstruation after that, does she eat and if she is purified for a second time, does she pray and fast or not?

Answer: if a puerperal woman purifies before 40 days are over, then she has to wash up, pray and fast and she can sleep with her husband as well.
Then if blood comes back during the 40 days, she should abandon her prayers and fasting and she can't have any sexual intercourse with her husband, and this opinion is the most correct one among 2 different scientists' opinions.

If she was purified before the 40 days or when they are about to end, she has to wash up, pray, fast and she can then be eligible and available for her husband.

If blood continues after 40 days, then that is bad sinister blood, that she is not supposed to abandon her fasting and prayers for.
But, she prays and fasts in Ramadan and she can be with her husband, also she has to use anything that lessens the amount of blood like cotton swabs or tampons and wash up for every prayer, because the messenger ordered of doing so, unless the period comes, then she will have to abandon her prayers.
[Ibn Baz]


Question: a woman has blood during her pregnancy before her puerperium by 5 days in Ramadan, so is it considered to be menstrual blood or puerperal blood and what is she supposed to do?

Answer: if it is true as said that she had been while being pregnant 5 days before giving birth, so if there is no sign for near labor, so this is neither menstrual blood nor puerperal blood, but just unhealthy sinister blood, so she must not abandon her prayers and fasting, but she should keep on doing them.

If there is any sign of the vicinity of labor, then it is puerperal blood that could make her abandon her fasting and prayers, then she has to fast the missed days but not the prayers after being purified.
[The permanent committee]


Question: what is the rule for yellowish discharge during the whole 40 days, should I pray and fast?

Answer: if it is true as said, that she didn't see any sign of the vicinity of labor, so it is neither menstrual blood nor puerperal blood, so she must not abandon her fasting and prayers.
But if there is any sign of the vicinity of labor, then it is puerperal blood that obligates her to abandon her fasting and prayers.
Then she must make it up for her fasting only, but not the prayers, after being purified.



The fasting of pregnant and suckling mothers

Question: what about the expecting or suckling mother if they ate in Ramadan?

Answer: it is not permissible for neither the pregnant, nor the suckling mother not to fast during Ramadan without any excuse.
If they didn't fast just because of an excuse then they will have to reconcile and make these days up later on because God Almighty says:" So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]."[Al-Baqara 2:184]

Transliteration: Faman Kāna Minkum Marīđāan 'Aw `Alá Safarin Fa`iddatun Min 'Ayyāmin 'Ukhara

And this means the sick.

If they have any fear for the baby, then they have to feed one poor person for each day, whether it is wheat, rice, dates, or whatsoever of human food.
Some scientists said: they only have to make up these days and reconcile for them, since there is no evidence from either the holly Quraan nor the Sunnah about the obligation of feeding.

The basic principle is the clearance until there is evidence otherwise. This is the view of Abu Hanifa and it is the strong view.
[Ibn Othaymeen: Islamic fatawa]


Question: if the pregnant or suckling mother eats in the month of Ramadan because of her fear for her baby, so what does she have to do?
Should she eat, feed and make it up (reconcile)? Or eat and feed but does not make it up? What is the right choice among these 3 ones?

Answer: if the woman is afraid for her baby out of fasting, then she could not fast and she should then make it up, just like the subjects who are unable to fast or afraid that fasting could do her any harm.
God Almighty says '' [Observing Saum (fasts)] for a fixed number of days, So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]."[Al-Baqara 2:184]

Transliteration: 'Ayyāmāan Ma`dūdātin Faman Kāna Minkum Marīđāan 'Aw `Alá Safarin Fa`iddatun Min 'Ayyāmin 'Ukhara


Question: A woman has given birth in Ramadan and she has not make it up for her missed Ramadan, then she gave birth in the next Ramadan, could she spend money as charity instead of fasting?

Answer: this woman ought to fast instead of the days she had missed, even if she fasts them after the second Ramadan, because she didn't make it up between the first and the second for an excuse and I don't know if it is difficult for her to make it up in winter day after day even if she is breast feeding since Allah will give her power and strength and this will not affect neither her nor her breast milk, so she hast to be as cautious as could be to make it up for the previous Ramadan before the second Ramadan comes.
And if it does not occur to her, so she can postpone it to the second Ramadan.
[Ibn Othaymeen: Islamic fatawa]


Question: what is the rule for postponing the gratification of fasting till after the next Ramadan?

Answer: whoever breaks the fast of Ramadan for a travel or illness, so he has to gratify it before the next Ramadan.

The time in between the 2 Ramadan months is a vacancy of time given by Allah for people to make advantage of, so if she has postponed it till after Ramadan, so she shall make it up, besides gratifying for each single day, like the prophet's companions stated.

Feeding is half a bushel of the ordinary food which equals to approximately one half a kilograms of dates, rice, or whatever.

But if it is done before the next Ramadan, the she doesn't have to feed.
[Ibn Baz]


Question: I am a girl who was obliged by the circumstances to break my fasting and eat for 6 days on purpose in Ramadan, because of my examinations since they began in the month of Ramadan and my subjects are difficult and I couldn't have studied my difficult subjects if I have fasted, so what should I do so that Allah Almighty forgive me?
May Allah reward you.

Answer: you have to ask god for forgiveness and gratifying for the days you have not fasted and God Almighty grants forgiveness for those who ask sincerely for it.

The truth of repentance that makes God erases the sins is to abandon the sins as a way of magnifying and praising God Almighty and as a way of fear of his punishment and regret for what have occurred before and sincere determination not to get back to committing it.
If this sin is a way of injustice for others, then repentance will abolish their rights then.

God Almighty says:" And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed." [Al-Nur 24:31]

Wa Tūbū 'Ilá Allāhi Jamī`āan 'Ayyuhā Al-Mu'uminūna La`allakum Tufliĥūna


Translated by Wathaker.net website

http://en.wathakker.net/