The Case of Fasting during Menses: Major or Minor One

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), if a woman experiencing Hayd (menses) is required to complete Qada’ (compensatory fast) of the fast. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, she is required to complete its Qada’ (compensatory fast).’ I then asked if she is required to perform Qada’ (compensatory salat) of Salat (prayer)?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘No, she is not required to perform Qada’ (compensatory salat) for Salat (prayer).’ I then asked, ‘On what basis is it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The first one who analogized was Iblis (Satan).”’

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who gets up in the morning fasting but when the day rises or in the evening experiences Hayd (menses), if she can stop fasting. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, even if it is al-Maghrib (sunset), she can stop fasting.’ I then asked him (the Imam) about the case of a woman who becomes clean of Hayd (menses) in the morning of the month of Ramadan and she takes Ghusl (bath); but does not eat what should she do?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘She stops fasting that day; bleeding has invalidated her fast.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who experiences Hayd (menses) in the month of Ramadan before sunset. He (the Imam) said, ‘She must stop fasting at the time she finds Hayd (menses).”’

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a woman who gives birth after al-‘Asr if she completes or stops fasting on that day. He (the Imam) said, ‘She must stop fasting, and complete Qada’ (compensatory fast) of that day.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who experiences Istihadah. He (the Imam) said, ‘She is required to fast in the month of Ramadan except for the days during which she used to experience Hayd (menses) and thereafter complete its Qada’ (compensatory fast).”’

“I once wrote to him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a woman who becomes clean of Hayd (menses) or childbirth bleeding on the first day of the month of Ramadan. She then experiences istihadah, she performs Salat (prayer) and fasts in all of the month of Ramadan without doing what a woman experiencing istihadah is required to do such as Ghusl (bath) for every Salat (prayer): if her fast and Salat (prayer) are valid. He (the Imam) wrote, ‘She completes Qada’ (compensatory fast) of fast but not Qada’ (compensatory salat) for her Salat (prayer); the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, would instruct Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, and the believing women to do so.”’

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who gets up fasting but when the day rises or it becomes evening, she experiences Hayd (menses), if she stops fasting. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, she is required to stop fasting even if it is before al-Maghrib.’ I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who becomes clean of Hayd (menses) in the beginning of the day in the month of Ramadan, does not take Ghusl (bath) and does not eat; what should she do about that day. He (the Imam) said, ‘Blood discharge has invalidated her fast.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who became ill in the month of Ramadan and dies in the month of Shawwal. She asked me, in her will, to complete Qada’ (compensatory fast), on her behalf. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Did she get well from her illness?’ I replied, ‘No, she did not get well, but she died from that illness.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Do not complete Qada’ (compensatory fast) on her behalf; Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has not made anything obligatory on her.’ I said, ‘I like to carry out on her behalf because she has asked in her will.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘How can you carry out on her behalf something that Allah has not placed on her? If you like to fast for yourself, you may do so.’”

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a woman who becomes ill in the month of Ramadan, or experiences Hayd (menses) or travels and then dies before the month of Ramadan ends: if she owes to carry out Qada’ (compensatory fast). He (the Imam) said, ‘Because of Hayd (menses) and illness there is no Qada’ (compensatory fast), however, because of traveling there is Qada’ (compensatory fast) on her.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a woman who vows to fast for two consecutive months. He (the Imam) said, ‘She is required to fast and fasts again for the days that were missed because of her Hayd (menses) until two months are complete.’ I then asked, ‘If she during her menopause fasts, does she still have to carry out Qada’ (compensatory fast)?’ "I asked Abu Abdullah (a.s.) about a woman who vows to fast for two consecutive months. He (a.s.) said: 'She should fast, and if she stops due to menstruation, she should resume her fasting days until she completes the two months.' I asked, 'What if she has reached menopause and no longer menstruates? Should she make up the missed days?' He (a.s.) said, 'No, she does not need to make them up; the initial fasting is sufficient for her.'"

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), that my woman had placed upon herself fasting for two months. She gave birth; then became pregnant. She is not able to fast. He (the Imam) said, ‘She is required to pay charity of one mud (certain measurement) for everyday to a destitute person.’”