If my period comes while I am fasting, should I complete the day fasting or not?.
Praise be to Allaah.
If a woman gets her period while fasting, her fast is
spoiled, even if the blood comes a moment before sunset, and she has to make
that up if it was an obligatory fast. It is haraam for her to continue
fasting when she is menstruating.
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in
al-Majmoo’ (2/386):
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… The
ummah is also unanimously agreed that it is obligatory for these women to
make up missed Ramadaan fasts. Al-Tirmidhi, Ibn al-Mundhir, Ibn Jareer, our
companions and others narrated that there was consensus on this point.
Ibn Qudaamah said in al-Mughni (4/397):
The scholars
are unanimously agreed that it is not permissible for women who are
menstruating or bleeding following childbirth to fast, and that they should
not fast in Ramadaan but should make up missed fasts. If they do fast, their
fast is not accepted. ‘Aa’ishah said: “We used to menstruate at the time of
the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him),
and we were commanded to make up the fasts, but we were not commanded to
make up the prayers.” Agreed upon. The one who commanded them thus was the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Abu Sa’eed said:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Is it
not the case that when one of you menstruates, she does not pray or fast?
That is what is meant by lacking in religious commitment.” Narrated by
al-Bukhaari.
Menstruating women and women who are bleeding following
childbirth are regarded as the same, because the blood of nifaas is like the
blood of menstruation, so it comes under the same rulings. If menstruation
starts during the day, the fast of that day is invalidated, whether it
starts at the beginning of the day or at the end. If a menstruating woman
intends to fast and refrains from eating or drinking, even though she knows
that that is haraam, she is committing a sin, and that fast does not count.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said in his essay al-Dima’
al-Tabee’iyyah li’l-Nisa’ (p.28):
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.
If she feels that her period is about to begin but nothing
comes out until after sunset, then her fast is complete and is not
invalidated, according to the correct view.
The Standing Committee (10/155) was asked about a woman who
fasted and shortly before sunset and before the adhaan, her period came. Is
her fast valid?
They replied: if her period came before sunset her fast is
invalid and she has to make it up. If it came after sunset then her fast is
valid and she does not have to make it up.
