If a Woman Is Unsure Her Period Has Ended Before Fajr, Should She Fast That Day?
Question
In Ramadan, if a woman is unsure if her period has finished by the time of Fajr, but it has been 2-3 hours since last spotting, should she fast that day?
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
1. The Shari Context
A menstruating woman is not permitted to fast. The Prophet peace be upon him said regarding women:
“Is it not that when she menstruates, she does not pray and does not fast?”
Sahih al Bukhari
Fasting becomes valid again once menstruation has completely ended and the signs of purity appear before Fajr. The recognized signs of purity are either complete dryness or the appearance of the white discharge known to women as the sign of the end of menstruation.
Allah says:
“They ask you about menstruation. Say: it is harm, so keep away from women during menstruation and do not approach them until they become pure.”
Surat al Baqarah 2:222
Purity here refers to the actual cessation of bleeding.
2. Scholarly Discussion
The four madhahib agree that fasting is invalid during menstruation and becomes valid once bleeding fully stops before Fajr and the woman intends the fast.
They also agree that certainty of purity is required. Mere assumption is not sufficient if bleeding may still be ongoing.
If purity is established before Fajr, even moments before, and she intends to fast, the fast is valid.
If menstruation continues past Fajr, even slightly, then that day cannot count as a valid fast.
If she is uncertain whether the bleeding has fully stopped, the ruling depends on what is more certain in her case: continued menstruation or confirmed dryness.
3. Application to the Question
If it has been 2–3 hours since the last spotting, the key issue is whether she has confirmed purity before Fajr.
If she checked and found clear dryness or the white discharge before Fajr, then she should fast that day. Her fast is valid even if ghusl is done after Fajr, as long as purity occurred before Fajr.
If she did not check and remains genuinely unsure whether bleeding had stopped before Fajr, then the principle is that menstruation is presumed to continue until certainty of purity is established.
If later in the morning she becomes certain that purity occurred before Fajr, then the fast counts.
If she becomes certain that bleeding continued past Fajr, then that day does not count and must be made up.
If she is simply experiencing doubt without new spotting and dryness is present, then she should treat herself as pure and fast.
4. Relevant Usul Principle
اليقين لا يزول بالشك
Certainty is not removed by doubt
If menstruation was present, that is certainty. It is not lifted by mere suspicion. Purity must be established with certainty. Conversely, once purity is certain, later doubts do not invalidate the fast.
الأصل براءة الذمة
The default state is freedom from obligation until proven otherwise
If purity is confirmed before Fajr, then she is legally obligated to fast. If purity is not confirmed, the obligation does not attach until certainty is achieved.
Final Ruling
If she confirmed that her period ended before Fajr through clear dryness or the known sign of purity, she must fast and the fast is valid even if she performs ghusl after Fajr. If she is truly unsure and has not confirmed purity, she should not fast that day and must make it up later. Certainty of purity is required for the fast to be valid.
And Allah knows best.