. If a menstruating woman ceases bleeding before dawn, then she performs Ghusl (purifying shower) and intends to fast the next day. However, if blood flow ceases after Fajr then she performs ghusl, and starts praying as usual and the day has to made up after Ramadan. She may eat and drink during that day as it is an invalid day as Shaikh Ibn Othaymin observed. The Prophet (S) said: “Is it not that when she [the woman] menstruates, she does not pray nor fast?” We said: Yes indeed. He said: “That is the deficiency in her Deen [religion]. In another narration: “She remains not praying at night and refraining from fasting in Ramadan, that is the deficiency in her Deen”.[Muslim] The order to make up for the days of menstruation is reported in the lesson ‘Aishah gave to Mu‘aathah who came and asked her “Why is it that the menstruating woman has to make up her fasts but not the prayers?” ‘Aisha said: “Are you a Harooree(*) woman?” I (Mu‘aathah) said: “I am not a Harooree woman, but I wish to ask”. ‘Aisha said: “That used to come upon us and so we were ordered to make up the fasts and were never ordered to make up the prayers” [Bukhari and Muslim]
(*)Haroorees are the people of Haroora near Koofa [Iraq]. They had the belief of Khawarij who fought Ali radhiya Allahu ‘anh. They make it obligatory on the woman to make up her prayers if she menstruates. ‘Aisha feared that Mu‘aathah was among them.
H. Other Rulings Pertaining to Fasting
- The interval between the end of suhoor (the pre-dawn meal) and the start of the obligatory prayer is the interval sufficient to recite fifty Aayaat, as indicated by the Prophet (s.a.w.) and related by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.
- Eating the pre-dawn meal (suhoor) contains many blessings and the Prophet (s.a.w.) ordered us to do take it, forbade us from leaving it and told us to take suhoor to make a distinction between our fast and the fast of the People of the Book. In spite of this, Ibn Hajar reports in Fathul-Baaree that there is Ijmaa that it is mustahabb (recommendation). Allah knows best.
- Falsehood, ignorant and indecent speech are to be avoided as they may render one’s fasting futile.
- A fasting person can begin fasting while in the state of Janaabah (major state of impurity that requires bath due to a sexual intercourse), as explained in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.
- Use of Siwaak (tooth-stick) is permitted. Likewise, washing the mouth and nose is permitted, but it should not be done strongly.
- The Prophet discouraged a youth from kissing while fasting, while he allowed an old man since he is able to control himself.
- Pouring cold water over one’s head and taking a bath contain no harm to a fasting person.
- It is the Sunnah of the Prophet and the practice of his companions to break the fast as soon as the Sun sets even if some bright redness remains upon the horizon. Muslims are strongly encouraged to hasten breaking the fast. The Prophet (s.a.w.) said: “The Deen will not cease to be uppermost as long as the people hasten to break the fast, since the Jews and the Christians delay it.” [Abu Daawood, Ibn Hibbaan, Hasan]
- The Prophet (s.a.w.) used to break his fast before praying and he used to break it with fresh dates, if not then with older dates. And if not with dates, than with some mouthfuls of water.
- The supplication of the fasting person when he breaks his fast is not rejected. The best du’aa’ (supplication) is that reported from Allah’s Messenger (pbuh). He used to say when breaking the fast: “Dhahaba-DH-DHama’u wabtallatil-’urooqu, wa thabatal ajru inshaa Allah.” (The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened and the reward is certain, if Allah wills.) [Abu Daawood, al-Baihaqee, al-Haakim and others, Hasan]
- The Prophet said: “He who gives food for a fasting person to break his fast, he will receive the same reward as him, except that nothing will be reduced from the fasting persons reward.” [Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan, Saheeh]. Also, a fasting Muslim should not reject invitation of another Muslim to break fast.
- As for Lailatul-Qadr, the Night of Decree,