Presentation made by www.sarandibmuslims.com Author:Shaikh Saalih Al-FawzaanSource:His book Tanbeehaat ‘alaa Ahkaam takhtassu bil-Mu’minaat (pg. 62-67)Translator: isma'eel alarcon

1. Author:Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan
Source:His book Tanbeehaat ‘alaa Ahkaam takhtassu bil-Mu’minaat
Rulings for Fasting that are
Specific for Women

2. Fasting the month of Ramadaan is an obligation on every
male and female Muslim, and it is one of the pillars and great
foundations of Islaam.
Allaah says: "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed
for you as it was prescribed for those before you in
order that you may attain Taqwaa." [Surah Al-Baqarah: 183] The
word "kutiba" (prescribed) here means "furida" obligated.

3. So when the young girl reaches the age in
which she will be held accountable for her
actions, by having one of the signs of puberty
become apparent in her, among which is
menstruation, then the obligation of fasting
begins for her.

4. A girl could begin menstruating as early as
when she is nine years old.
However, some young girls are not aware
that they are required to begin fasting at
that point, so she doesn’t fast thinking that
she is too young, nor do her parents order
her to fast.

5. This is a great negligence, for one of the pillars
of Islaam is being abandoned. If this occurs to
any woman, she is obligated to make up for the
days of fasting that she abandoned since the
point when she began menstruating, even if a
long time has passed since that time, for it
remains in her obligations.

6. When the month of Ramadaan comes, every
male and female Muslim that
1. has reached the age of puberty
2. healthy
3. resident (i.e. not traveling)
Who is obligated to fast Ramadaan?
is obligated to fast. And whoever is sick or traveling
during the month, may break the fast and make up
the number of days missed on other days.

7. Allaah says:
"So whoever sights the (moon indicating the
beginning of the) month, then he must fast.
And whoever is sick or on a journey, then (he
may break the fast and instead fast) the
number of days missed on other days.“
[Surah Al-Baqarah: 185]

8. Likewise, whoever enters into Ramadaan and
he is very old and not able to fast or has
chronic illness, which does not expect to be
cured any specific time – whether male o female
may break the fast and instead feed a needy
person half a saa’ (four handfuls) of the food
from that people’s land for every day missed.

9. Allaah says:
"And as for those who can fast (but) with
difficulty, they (may break their fast and)
feed a needy person." [Surah Al Baqarah: 184]
Ibn ‘Abbaas (raa) said:
"This ayah is for the old man of whom it is not
anticipated that he will be cured." [Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree]

10. And the sick person of whom it is not hoped that he will
be cured from his sickness falls under the ruling of the
old person.
And he does not have to make up the missed days
because of his inability to fast.
A woman is specified with certain excuses that permit
her to break the fast in Ramadaan, on the condition that
she makes up the days she missed fasting due to these
excuses on other days.

11. These specific excuses for women are:
Menstrual and Postpartum Bleeding:
A woman is forbidden from fasting while she is in these two
conditions. And she is obligated to make up these missed days
of fasting on other days.
This is based on what is reported in the two Saheeh collections
from ‘Aa’isha (raa) who said:
"We were ordered to make up the (missed) days of
fasting but we were not ordered to make up the
(missed) prayers."

12. Aa’isha (raa) gave this answer when a woman
asked her: "Why does a menstruating woman
have to make up the (missed days of) fasting
and not have to make up the (missed) prayers?"
So she (raa) clarified that this is from the
matters dependent on revelation, which must
comply with the reported texts.

13. As for the wisdom behind that, then Shaikh-ul-Islaam
Ibn Taimiyyah said in "Majmoo’-ul-Fataawaa"
(15/251):
"The blood that comes out of the woman because of
menstruation has a discharge of blood in it. A
menstruating woman can fast in times other than when
the blood that comes out of her due to menstruation
contains her blood. So her fasting in this situation is a
moderate and balanced fast - no blood, which
strengthens the body and which is its main substance -
comes out of her during these times.

14. But a woman fasting when she is menstruating
necessitates that her blood come out during this
time - the blood, which is the main component of
her body and which will lead to a weakness and
deficiency in her body. And this will necessitate that
her fast not be that of a moderate and balanced
nature. So that is why she is commanded to fast in
times when she is not menstruating.”
As for the wisdom behind cont.,

15. Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding
If because of fasting there is harm caused to the woman or the baby
or to both of them, then she may break the fast while she is pregnant
or breastfeeding. But if the harm for which reason she is breaking her
fast only applies to her baby and not her, then she must make up for
the days she missed of fasting and feed a needy person for each day
missed. And if the harm only applies to herself, then it is sufficient for
her to only make up the missed days. This is based on the pregnant
woman and breastfeeding woman falling under the generality of
Allaah’s saying:
"And for those who can fast (but) with difficulty, they (may
break their fast) and instead feed a needy person." [Surah Al-
Baqarah: 184]

16. Al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said in his Tafseer
(1/379): "Amongst those who fall into the meaning of this ayah
are the pregnant and breastfeeding women if they fear for
themselves or for their children."
And Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah said:
"If a pregnant woman fears for her fetus, then she may not fast
and instead make up each day of fasting that was missed on
other days and feed a needy person around 2 kilograms of
bread." [Majmoo’-ul-Fatawaa: 25/318]

17. Important Notes

18. 1. Istihaadah (Irregular Bleeding)
This is the condition in which a woman has blood come out of
her, which is not her menstrual blood. She must observe the
fast and it is not permissible for her to break her fast because
of this type of bleeding. When mentioning the allowance of the
menstruating woman of breaking her fast, Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn
Taimiyyah (rahimahullaah) said: "This is contrary to the woman in the
state of Istihaadah, for this state comprises an unfixed period of time,
and there is not a time in it in which she can be commanded to begin
fasting (again). So because of this, it is not possible to caution against it,
the same as for throwing up unexpectedly, emitting blood due to a
wound, getting a boil, Ihtilaam (when sexual fluid comes out of the
private parts not due to intercourse or foreplay), as well as all the other
things that do not have a fixed time in which they could be cautioned
against. So this (Istihaadah) was not made as something that nullifies
the fast, such as the blood of menstruation." [Majmoo’-ul-Fataawaa: 25/251]

19. 2. The Menstruating woman as well as the
pregnant and breastfeeding women
if they break their fast in Ramadaan, must make up for the missed days
of fasting in the time that occurs between the Ramadaan in which they
broke their fast and the forthcoming Ramadaan. But to complete them
early is better. And if there only remain a few days before the next
Ramadaan begins, then they are obligated to make up the missed days of
fasting (from the previous Ramadaan) such that the new Ramadaan will
not come upon them while they still have to fast days from the previous
Ramadaan. But if they don’t do this and Ramadaan comes upon them
while they still owe days of fasting from the previous Ramadaan, and
they have no (valid) excuse for delaying it, they are obligated to make up
the missed days and to feed a needy person for each day. But if they have
a valid excuse, then they must only make up the missed days of fasting.
This goes the same for those who must make up the missed days of
fasting due to sickness or traveling. Their ruling is like the ruling of the
woman who broke the fast due to menses, with the previously
mentioned details.

20. 3. It is not permissible for a woman to observe
a recommended fast
if her husband is present unless she has his permission. This is based on
what Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim and others have reported from Abu Hurairah
(raa) that the Prophet (saws) said: "It is not permissible for a woman
to fast while her husband is present except with his
permission." In some narrations of the hadeeth in Ahmad and Abu
Dawood, there occurs the wording "...except Ramadaan." But if the
husband permits her to observe a recommended fast or he is not present
around her or if she doesn’t have a husband, then it is encouraged for her
to observe this recommended day of fasting. This is especially for the days
in which it is recommended to fast such as Mondays and Thursdays, three
days in every month, six days in Shawaal, the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah,
the Day of ‘Arafah and the Day of ‘Aashooraa along with the day before or
after it. However, she should not observe a recommended fast while she
owes days to make up for (the previous) Ramadaan, until she first makes
up these missed days and Allaah knows best.

21. 4. If a menstruating woman stops
bleeding during the day in Ramadaan
she must begin her fasting for the remainder of the day but still
make it up with the days that she didn’t fast because of menses.
Her fasting for the remainder of the day in which she stops
bleeding is an obligation on her out of respect for the time (i.e.
Ramadaan).

22. Dear Brothers / Sisters JazakAllahu Khaira for reading this presentation and appreciate
your comments and suggestions
O Allah make usoneof those whounderstood and practiced Your
Religion as ofthose whom Youhave bestowed YourGrace,
not of those whoearned YourAnger
Presentation made by www.sarandibmuslims.com
For question or comment pls. contact info@sarandibmuslims.com
Author:Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan
Source:His book Tanbeehaat ‘alaa Ahkaam takhtassu bil-Mu’minaat (pg. 62-67)
Translator: isma'eel alarcon