Women and the month of Ramadan

In the name of Allah, most beneficent, most merciful Assalaamu Alaikum! This week’s Talk focuses on the ruling on fasting for women and some of the permissible deeds in Ramadan. Before discussing some of the issues that are unique to women in the month of Ramadan, Ramadan Talk highlights below some of the permissible deeds […]

In the name of Allah, most beneficent, most merciful

Assalaamu Alaikum!

This week’s Talk focuses on the ruling on fasting for women and some of the permissible deeds in Ramadan.

Before discussing some of the issues that are unique to women in the month of Ramadan, Ramadan Talk highlights below some of the permissible deeds in the holy month:

– It is permissible for the person who needs to break his fast to save someone whose life is in danger. This could apply when someone is drowning, when fires need to be put off, etc. However, this person will make up the fast after Ramadan.

– It is permissible for one to kiss, hug, embrace, touch, or repeatedly look at his wife or concubine provided he controls himself. Bukhari and Muslim reported A’isha (wife of the Prophet, pbuh) in a hadith as saying that the Prophet (pbuh) used to kiss and embrace his wives whilst he was fasting, but firmly controlled his desire. Therefore a person that easily gets aroused and cannot control himself is forbidden to kiss or embrace the opposite sex while fasting, as that may lead him to break the fast and attract punishment.

– When the day breaks while a person is still in a state of janaba (impurity following sexual intercourse), the person’s fasting is not affected.

– If a person that is fasting has a wet dream while asleep, the person’s fasting is not affected. According to scholarly consensus (ijimaa), he must complete his fast.

– The emission of maziy and wadiy (a thick and sticky substance emitted after urination with on sense of physical pleasure or old age) does not break the fast.

– According to a hadith reported by Tirmidhi, the Prophet (pbuh) said that, “whoever vomits unintentionally does not have to make up for the fast later on; but whoever vomits on purpose does have to make up for it.”

– If a person spits out water after rinsing his mouth, the fasting is not affected by any moisture or wetness that is left because he cannot help that.

– Nose bleed does not break fasting because it is beyond one’s control.

– It is permissible to use siwaak (toothbrush) and is even Sunnah for the fasting person at all times of the day. If a person who is fasting uses siwaak, detecting and swallowing some taste from it does not break the fast.

– Smelling pleasant fragrances, using perfume or applying scented creams and the like is permissible during fasting.

– It is permissible for a fasting person to immerse himself in water, wrap wet cloth over the body to cool down, or pour water over the head to obtain relief from heat. Swimming is to be avoided however because it might cause one to break the fast by swallowing water.

– If a person eats, drinks, or has intercourse thinking that it was still night but later realises that dawn had broken, no harm is done because such acts are permissible during the night. It would be an offence to carry out such acts deliberately however.

– If a person breaks his fast thinking that the sun had set when it had not, the person must refrain from eating until the sun sets but it would not be necessary to make up for the fast.

Ruling on fasting for women

– A girl who reaches the age of puberty is obliged to fast. Failing to do so, she must repent; make up for the days she missed.

– Women are not allowed to fast voluntarily without the permission of their husbands, if he is present, except during Ramadan.

– If a woman’s period or post-natal bleeding ceases during the night and she formulates the intention to fast but is unable to perform the ritual bath (ghuslul-hayd or Nifas ) before the day breaks, her fast would still be valid.

– If a woman knows that her menstruation would commence the next day, she should still fast. She would not stop fasting until she actually begins to bleed.

– The Mothers of the Believers (wives of the Prophet, pbuh) and the wives of his companions used to remain natural and accept whatever Allah decreed for them. They did not take medication to interfere with their menstruation. Therefore women in our day should be contented with whatever Allah accepts from them with regards to breaking their fast during their periods and make up for the days later.

– Non menstrual vagina bleeding (istihadah) does not invalidate the fast.

– A consensus among Islamic scholars (ijmaa) suggests that a pregnant or breastfeeding woman is to be regarded as one that is ill; she is permitted to abstain from fasting if she feels that that would harm her pregnancy or child. However, such a woman will make up for the days she missed after Ramadan.

– If a woman consent to sex with her husband during the day in the month of Ramadan, the ruling that applies to him also applies to her. Otherwise the husband would be considered the only offender.

– A woman who knows that her husband cannot control himself should keep away from him and not adorn herself in the day time during Ramadan.

– The woman who inhales smoke in the course of her domestic duties has committed no offence. Her fasting remains valid because she could not help the situation.

Although the above-listed rulings on women, as well as the permissible deeds in Ramadan are by no means exhaustive. However, they can guide a fasting person to observe the important ibadah (worship) in accordance to the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Next week inshaAllah, Ramadan Talk would focus on some of the actions that are classified as offences during the month of Ramadan. Similarly, by next week Saturday, the last ten days of Ramadan would, inshaAllah, set in; therefore the Talk would also discuss some of the observances recommended for these special days.

For observations, corrections, suggestions, questions or contribution, please contact 080-38608418 or isaliman@dailytrust.