Menstruation & Ramadan Fasting
Question
What should I do about fasting during menstruation?
Short answer
A menstruating woman does not fast during established menstrual days and later makes up those fasting days; the Salah missed during menstruation is not made up.
Understand the issue
- This distinction comes directly from ‘Aishah رضي الله عنها in Sahih Muslim.
- When menstruation ends, Ghusl is made and Salah resumes.
Islamic guidance
- Treat the exemption as obedience to the Islamic ruling, not as a deficiency in faith.
- Use focused guidance for irregular bleeding, uncertain purity, or postpartum bleeding.
What to do now
- Record missed Ramadan days so they can be made up later.
- Resume fasting once the menstrual state has genuinely ended according to the applicable ruling.
What may depend on your situation
- Irregular spotting, postpartum bleeding, bleeding that stops and returns, and unusual patterns need specific assessment.
Do not assume
- Do not fast through established menstruation to ‘keep up’ with others.
- Do not make up the prayers missed because of established menstruation.