Islam Question and Answer - Her menses ended before Fajr and she started fasting without doing ghusl

Tue 7/12/1430 - 24/11/2009

» It is essential that the sacrificial animal be slaughtered by a Muslim with the intention of offering a sacrifice (udhiyah).

» Etiquette of Eid.

» It is not stipulated that fasts be observed consecutively for one who cannot find a hadiy.

» Ruling on takbeer in unison before the Eid prayer.

» What should be done if Eid coincides with Friday.

» The time for udhiyah (sacrifice).

» Guidance of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) regarding Eid prayers.

» He forgot to fast the third day during Hajj and fasted it after he returned home.

» Ruling on Eid prayers .

» For how many people is the udhiyah sufficient?.

94839

Principles of Fiqh » Jurisprudence and Islamic Rulings » Acts of Worship » Fasting » Women in Ramadaan

Her menses ended before Fajr and she started fasting without doing ghusl

My menses ended before Fajr prayer and I waited until after the prayer, but I fell asleep and I woke up at ten a.m. I did not do ghusl because I forgot, and I took my sick daughter to the hospital, and I was busy until the time of ‘Asr prayer, then I did ghusl and made up the prayers that I had missed. Allaah knows that this is the first time this had happened to me since I reached puberty. The reason was that my period usually lasts for 9 days but this month it was 8 days, but I waited to make sure, but I was fasting. What should I do? Should I make up the fast?.

Praise be to Allaah.

If you were certain that your menses had ended and you formed the intention to fast before dawn, even if it was one minute before, then your fast is valid, even if you delayed doing ghusl.

See the answer to question no. 37936.

But if you were uncertain as to whether your period had ended, but you still intended to fast, then the fast was not valid because of your uncertainty as to whether your menses had ended.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about a woman who fasted when she was unsure whether her period was over, then when morning came she saw that it had indeed ended. Does her fast count even though she was not certain that her period had ended?

He replied: Her fast does not count, and she has to make up that day, because the basic principle is that the menses was still there, and her starting to fast when she was not certain that her menses was over means that she started to do an act of worship when she was uncertain as to whether one of the conditions of it being valid was fulfilled or not, and this means that it does not count. End quote from Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (19/107).

If a woman knows that her menses has ended, she must do ghusl so that she may pray, and it is not permissible for her to delay that until the time for prayer ends. If she does that, then she has to repent, as well as make up the prayers that she has missed.

If she forgets that her period has ended – as you mention in your question – then there is no sin on her in sha Allaah for delaying her prayer, but when she remembers she must do ghusl and offer the prayers that she has missed – as you did.

We ask Allaah to forgive us and you.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A