I heard a wee while ago from a source (won’t comment on the reliability of the source - im putting this “out there” more for discussion purposes) that as women are not expected/required to “make up” the fardh prayers they miss when menstruating, they also do not have to make up the missed fasts from Ramadhaan.
The reason? The usual ones attributed for exemption of prayers – menstruation is a state of ritual impurity etc See Sunnipath for more details.
Now personally, I ‘ve always been aware that one needs to “make up” the missed fasts. And so I didnt see the “discrepancy” in terms of both prayers andRamadhaan fasts being fardh, yet the former don’t require to be made up whereas the latter do.
Anyone have any insight into this matter?
Its interesting now that it’s been brought to my attention.
My mom told us this story about Eve… I don’t know if it’s true, but it’s worth telling.
When Eve got her period she Allah what she was supposed to do, and He told her not to pray until it was over. And then when Ramadhan came, Eve didn’t fast during her period. and then God got angry with her because she didn’t ask His permission not to fast, she had to make up the fasts she missed…
I wonder how true it is.
Interesting! Never heard of that story before. Did they have months like Ramadhaan etc back in the Adam (as)’s time? I didnt think they did. Intriguing nonetheless
I remember a narration from Ayesha, radiallahu anha, where a woman asked her what to do about missed prayers and fasts. She gave the answer we all know now, that we must make up the fasts, but not the prayers. When the woman asked why not the prayers, Ayesha strongly rebuked her… i got the impression questioning it was like looking a gift horse in the mouth!
Just imagine having to make up all those prayers. Typical period length = 7 days. 7 x 12 = 84 rakaat! Some women have even longer periods… by the time you make up your qadha, you’d probably start your period again! In relation, making up missed fasts is much easier, as it’s only one fast for every day of the period… obviously i don’t know for sure this was Allah’s reasoning, Allahu ‘alaam, but it is a sign of His great mercy.
Plus Ramadan only comes once a year, compared to 12 periods a year! I think the Maths is compelling!
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu ukhtee,
The following is from Islam-QA, it’s a long read, but worthwhile, walhamdulillah. I hope it benefits:
Question:
There is a teenage girl who does not want to make up the days that she did not fast in Ramadaan, on the grounds that there is no shar’i evidence either in the Qur’aan or Sunnah to say that it is obligatory to make up these days.
I hope that you can provide me with some evidence from the Qur’aan or Sunnah so that I can advise this girl. May Allaah reward you with all good.
Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.
The fact that a woman who menstruates is obliged to make up missed fasts is a ruling on which there is consensus among the Muslims, and is indicated by the saheeh Sunnah and scholarly consensus.
Al-Bukhaari (321) and Muslim (335) narrated that Mu’aadhah said: I asked ‘Aa’ishah: “Why does a woman who menstruates have to make up the fasts but not the prayers?” She said: “Are you a Haroori?” I said: “I am not a Haroori, but I am asking.” She said: “That used to happen to us and we were commanded to make up the fasts but we were not commanded to make up the prayers.”
Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
This ruling is agreed upon. The Muslims are unanimously agreed that menstruating women and women who bleed following childbirth are not obliged to pray or fast at that time, and they are agreed that they do not have to make up the prayers, and they are agreed that they have to make up the fasts. The scholars said: the difference between them is that the prayers are many and repeated, and it would be too difficult to make them up, unlike the fast which is enjoined only once in the year, and a woman’s period may last only one or two days.
Al-Haafiz said:
“Are you a Haroori?” – the word Haroori is derived from Haroora’, which is a village two miles from Kufa. Those who believe in the madhhab of the Khaarijis are called Harooris because the first group of them rebelled against ‘Ali in that village, so they became known by this name. There are many such groups, but one of their basic principles on which they are all agreed is following what is indicated by the Qur’aan and rejecting additional evidence from the hadeeth. Hence ‘Aa’ishah asked Mu’aadhah this question by way of criticism.
Ibn Qudaamah said in al-Mughni (3/39):
The scholars are unanimously agreed that it is not permissible for menstruating women and women who bleed following childbirth to fast, and that they should not fast in Ramadaan, and should make up the missed days, and that if they do fast their fast does not count.
Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo’ (2/386):
The ummah is also unanimously agreed that it is obligatory 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.
Shaykh al-Islam said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (25/219):
It is proven by the Sunnah and the consensus of the Muslims that menstrual bleeding invalidates the fast, so a menstruating woman should not fast, but she should make up the missed fast.
This is the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and scholarly consensus on this matter was narrated by more than one of the scholars.
So how can anyone then say that there is no evidence that a woman who menstruates has to make up missed fasts!
This woman referred to in the question has to repent to Allaah from this wrong idea which implies rejection of the laws and rulings of Allaah. Whoever does not know something has to research and ask the scholars; it is not permissible for him to speak about the religion of Allaah without knowledge, because that is something that is forbidden. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say (O Muhammad): (But) the things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are Al-Fawaahish (great evil sins and every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse) whether committed openly or secretly, sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with Allaah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allaah of which you have no knowledge”
[al-A’raaf 7:33]
The Muslim should realize that he is responsible for every word he says. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Not a word does he (or she) utter but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it)”
[Qaaf 50:18]
We ask Allaah to bless us with insight and understanding of His religion.
And Allaah knows best.
I too have understood the answer to be what iMuslim expalins
I have understood it the same as imuslim explained.
Ah. I see.
GOD IS GREAT! THANK YOU GOD! Merciful.