The Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, when Muslims worldwide traditionally fast between sunrise and sunset. Not eating and drinking during the daytime is seen as a way to learn self-discipline, clean the soul and thank Allah. This year, Ramadan will start around Friday, April 24. It will end around Saturday, May 23 (depending on where you live) with the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr.
Fasting rules
Menstruating women (haa’idh) are not allowed to fast during Ramadan. They have to make up for the missed days of fasting, but not for the missed prayers (as these occur five times a day and the fasting only happens once a year). Women who want to make up for the missed days, first have to be absolutely certain that their bleeding has stopped at night. Only then they can start abstaining from food and drink the next day. If the period stops during daytime, the woman should still eat and drink normally that day and begin fasting the day after.
Menstruating women (and their husbands) have to adhere to more rules in Islam; sexual intercourse, for example, is forbidden during the monthly period. Hugging, kissing or touching outside the genital area is still permitted (in pre-corona times). In some Muslim societies, women are discouraged from using tampons. This is a cultural thing rather than a religious one and has to do with the taboo on premarital sex. Bloodstained sheets are (wrongly) considered a proof of virginity. Fearing inserting a tampon will break their hymen, girls rather use sanitary pads.
Other options: doing dhikr, using prayer beads, volunteering
So why can’t you fast, pray or enter a mosque on your period? In Islam, which has a strict hygiene regime, menstruating women are considered ritually impure for the duration of their bleeding. Afterwards they have to do a full body ceremonial wash, called a Ghusl. Another point of view is that menstruation temporarily releases women from their religious duties. Especially when suffering from heavy, painful periods, with low iron levels and fatigue, it’s important to nurture and nourish your body. Not only menstruating women have to abstain from fasting. Also small children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, the elderly and the sick should keep on eating during Ramadan.
Ramadan is about more than just fasting. Instead of praying and fasting, menstruating women are encouraged to participate in a different way. For examply by doing dhikr (repeating ‘Allahu Akbar‘, ‘Alhamdulillah‘, and ‘Subhanallah‘ 33 times each), using prayer beads or volunteering. Seeing as eating during daytime while all others don’t is the equivalent to screaming ‘I’m on my period!’, some women hide the fact they aren’t fasting. Not the Whelsh-Arab Hanan Issa – read her story on The Express Tribune. And on Patheos.com, Rana S. explains why she doesn’t hide the fact that she’s on her period during Ramadan anymore.
Ramadan menstruation studies
Back in 2013, a study into the effects of Ramadan fasting on menstrual cycles was published in the Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine. For this study, data on the cycles of 80 female college students was analysed from three months before until three months after Ramadan. Researchers found that menstrual abnormalities such as oligomenorrhea (infrequent menstruation), polymenorrhea (cycles with intervals of 25 days or fewer), and hypermenorrhea (menstruation with heavy or prolonged bleeding) increased during Ramadan, especially in participants who had fasted for more than 15 days.
Also this study from 2017, which was published in the Middle East Fertility Journal looked into the relation between Ramadan fasting and menstrual changes among teenagers. Here, data about the menstrual cycle of 85 female students was collected over a period of four consecutive months. This study showed there were changes in the menstrual cycle during Ramadan fasting, especially in menstrual blood volume. Researchers believe these changes have to do with the change of both dietary and sleep pattern during this month.
Good to know: there’s of course a big chance you need to break your fasting routine during Ramadan because of your menstruation. Ramadan lasts 29 to 30 days whereas the average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, of which you spend about 5 being on your period.
Read also:
Menstruating? Fasting forbidden!
Menstruating? No communion!
Pure or impure: that’s the question
Impure for 14 days
Honour your menstruation
May 18, 2020 at 9:42 am
If my normal period is 5days and in this Ramadan it has entered the eighth day seeing brownish stain can i perform ghusul and continue my fasting
May 18, 2020 at 2:55 pm
I was taught by the Imam’s wife to wait until ALL signs of my cycle stopped before performing ghusl and returning to salat. That means no discharge as well. She advised me that the average span was about 7 days but can last up to 14! I am a revert and was researching this information as well so I hope this helps sister.
May 19, 2020 at 8:21 am
My menstruation has started and we only have 4days to go what should i do
May 19, 2020 at 9:01 am
Dear readers, please note: Period! is an online magazine about all aspects of menstruation. Our content is composed with the utmost attention. However, it’s not intended as a substitute for medical or religious advice. If you’re suffering from any medical complaints, always visit your doctor or GP. If you have questions about specific rules regarding religion, please consult somebody close you can trust in this, like your parents, family or friends or consult an imam. Of course you’re welcome to share sisterly advice via this page too. Stay healthy!
May 19, 2020 at 5:51 pm
What of if someone eat sahur and fast since morning. Later period come out around 5pm. Should d person continue with the fasting or should break it
May 20, 2020 at 11:25 pm
One day Before priods starts bloods come out with my poops and rest of the day its cleand and dry so in this condition can i fast during ramadan and pray…?
May 21, 2020 at 8:32 am
Dear reader(s), please note: Period! is an online magazine about all aspects of menstruation. Our content is composed with the utmost attention. However, it’s not intended as a substitute for medical or religious advice. If you’re suffering from any medical complaints, always visit your doctor or GP. If you have questions about specific rules regarding religion, please consult somebody close you can trust in this, like your parents, family or friends or consult an imam. Of course you’re welcome to share sisterly advice via this page too. Stay healthy!
May 23, 2020 at 12:12 pm
I have started my period just now at 12pm can I continue to fast for the rest of the day, will it count or will I have to break my fast?
May 23, 2020 at 2:43 pm
Hello Queen,
Just recently I watched a video on youtube where Imam Dr. Zakir Naik said: if you fast and you start your period even 30minutes before Iftar, your fast is broken so you dont continue the fast and this day becomes a day you need to give back later after Ramadan.
I would advise you to write this question in youtube to see yourself just in case I misunderstood.
Write “Fasting while undergoing menstruation or post natal bleeding? by Dr Zakir Naik” and you will see a video with Imam explaining this.
May 24, 2020 at 6:59 pm
Thank you, I continued with my fast however I was aware this would not count and will make up for it. Eid Mubarak x