🕌 Worship in the home · #55
May a wife take medication to delay her period so she can fast all of Ramadan or perform hajj?
Many scholars permit it if it does not harm her health, on medical advice; if the period still comes, she follows the rulings of menstruation as usual.
Menstruation is something Allah has decreed for women (Sahih al-Bukhari 294), and not fasting during it is not a sin; the days are made up. Still, there can be a reasonable need to delay it, especially during hajj or umrah, since tawaf requires purity and time in the Holy Land is limited. The basic principle is not to harm oneself (Sunan Ibn Majah 2340), so the decision should be made with a doctor who knows her health history. If the medication causes irregular spotting, ask a female teacher or the religious office to distinguish menstruation from istihadah. Do not feel guilty if you choose not to take medication; making up the fasts is also worship. See Fiqh of menstruation.
Menstruation is something Allah has decreed for women (Sahih al-Bukhari 294), and not fasting during it is not a sin; the days are made up. Still, there can be a reasonable need to delay it, especially during hajj or umrah, since tawaf requires purity and time in the Holy Land is limited. The basic principle is not to harm oneself (Sunan Ibn Majah 2340), so the decision should be made with a doctor who knows her health history. If the medication causes irregular spotting, ask a female teacher or the religious office to distinguish menstruation from istihadah. Do not feel guilty if you choose not to take medication; making up the fasts is also worship. See Fiqh of menstruation.
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 294Sunan Ibn Majah 2340 (sahih)Surah al-Baqarah 2:185