Ramadan tidbits

Ans: If the woman concerned actually missed the fasts consecutively for two years as a result of her menses and could not atone for them due to illness, she is not in any way at fault and should make up for them whenever she gets well. However, if it is as a result of her […]

Ans: If the woman concerned actually missed the fasts consecutively for two years as a result of her menses and could not atone for them due to illness, she is not in any way at fault and should make up for them whenever she gets well. However, if it is as a result of her negligence, she has indeed committed a great offence and should seek for Allah’s forgiveness immediately. A traditional from Aisha (RA) states that she used to miss some fasts in Ramadan and only compensated them in the following Sha’aban. This goes to show that one should try and atone for missed Ramadan fasts before the next Ramadan.
In compensating one should feed the poor on breaking each of the fasts i.e at sunset when taking her food.
Q: What should a woman do at the end of her menses?
Ans: If it ends at the usual time, she should take the ritual birth of purity and continue with her devotions but when it ceases and flows continuously, she should continue to add the number of days in which she witnesses the blood up till 15 days after which she will take her bath and resume her devotions or at least till the number reaches her usual number of days of menses.
Q: What is the ruling concerning a menstruating woman who sits in the Holy Mosque to listen to the sayings of the prophet (SAW) or sermons?
A: It is forbidden for a menstruating woman to sit in the Holy Mosque or any other mosque although it is permissible for her to pass through it, collect something from it or do other similar things there as it is reported that the prophet (SAW) once ordered Aisha to bring him a mat from the mosque and when she explained that she was in her menses he said, “your menses is not under your control”. Which means she could go in and get it?
A menstruating woman can however go into the mosque only when she is certain that the menstrual blood is not dropping and sit in it because when the prophet (SAW) ordered all classes of women to go for the Eid-prayer on one occasion, he prohibited those menstruating from staying in the vicinity of the mosque.
Q: When a woman who is observing the fast of Ramadan passes out a little drop of blood, does it nullify her fast?
Her fast remains intact and valid because such blood is not birth blood unless it is proven so.

From the book: 100 Questions and Answers for Women on Purity, Salat and Fasting, translated by Imam Ahmad Adam Kutubi, Wuse Zone 7, Police Mosque, Abuja.