Muslimah

Question My wife gave birth around the 15th of Sha’baan. Is it permissible for her to pray, fast, do ‘umrah, read Qur’aan and do all other duties prescribed in Islam when the nifaas (post-partum bleeding) stops and she is sure of that, or should she wait for 40 days as some people say?. Answer Praise be to Allaah. The majority of scholars, including the four imams, are of the view that there is no minimum limit for nifaas. Whenever a woman becomes pure from nifaas, she has to do ghusl and pray and fast, even if that is before forty days have passed since the birth. Because no precise definition has been narrated in sharee’ah with regard to the minimum length of nifaas, so the matter should be based on experience, which shows that nifaas may be very short or it may be long. - Ibn Qudaamah in al-Mughni, 1/428. Some of the scholars narrated that there was consensus on this point. Al-Tirmidhi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: The scholars among the companions of the Prophet ...

Question I read a hadeeth in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah has waived the fast for pregnant and breastfeeding women.” Does that mean that fasting is not obligatory for them whether it entails hardship or not?. Answer Praise be to Allaah. This hadeeth was narrated by Abu Dawood, 2408; al-Tirmidhi, 715; al-Nasaa’i, 2315; and Ibn Maajah, 1667. It says that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah has relieved the traveller of half of the prayer and of the duty to fast, and He has relieved pregnant and nursing mothers (of the duty to fast).” It was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood. This hadeeth is general in meaning and applies to every pregnant woman, but the scholars limited it to cases of hardship, based on the reason for which this ruling – namely pregnant women not fasting – was prescribed. This is similar to the reference to the sick in the verse (interpretation of the meanin...

Question What should a woman do first: fast the six recommended days of Shawwal ( Alayam Alsetta Albeed) or fast equivalent to the days she missed in Ramadan due to her monthly period? Answer Praise be to Allaah. If she wants to earn the reward mentioned in the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime” (reported by Muslim, no. 1984), then she should complete her Ramadaan fasts first, then follow it with six days of Shawwaal, so that the hadeeth with be applicable to her too, and she will gain the reward mentioned in it. As regards the matter of permissibility, it is permissible for her to delay making up her Ramadaan fasts, provided that she makes them up before the next Ramadaan comes along.

Question When a woman has her monthly period it is well known that she cannot fast. Is it permissible for her to eat during the day in Ramadaan? Are there any guidelines?. Answer Praise be to Allaah. When women who are menstruating or bleeding following childbirth become pure during the day in Ramadaan (i.e., the bleeding stops), and when a traveller arrives at his destination, and when a sick person who stopped fasting recovers, they do not gain anything by refraining from eating during the day. They broke their fast for a reason, and making them refrain from eating is a matter which requires a shar’i text as proof. Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:  If a woman who is menstruating or bleeding following childbirth becomes pure during the day in Ramadaan (i.e., the bleeding stops), does she have to refrain from eating and drinking? He replied: If a woman who is menstruating or bleeding following childbirth becomes pure during the day ...

Question Is it better Islamically for a pregnant Muslim woman to fast or not fast in the month of Ramadan?. Answer Praise be to Allaah.  A pregnant woman is obliged to fast, just like anyone else, unless she fears for herself or for her baby, in which case it is permissible for her not to fast. Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said, concerning the verse (interpretation of the meaning):  “And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskeen (poor person) (for every day)” [al-Baqarah 2:184] “This was a concession granted to old men and old women who are able to fast but it is difficult, so they are allowed not to fast, and must feed one poor person for each day; and for those who are sick or pregnant, if they fear for their children, so they are allowed not to fast and must feed (one poor person for each day).” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 2317; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irw...