Fatwa ID: 08471

Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi

Question:

So, my mom is asking if she can use birth control pills to stop her period during the month of Ramadan so that she doesn’t miss any fasts because it becomes very difficult for her to make it up after. What is the ruling on this and the permissibility?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

The month of Ramadan is a sacred and spiritually uplifting time for Muslims, during which fasting is obligatory for all healthy, adult Muslims. However, menstruating women are exempted from fasting, in the Islamic law, and are required to make up the missed fasts after Ramadan. 

In all four madhhabs, including the Hanafi school, a menstruating woman is not allowed to fast. Her fast is considered invalid during this time, and she must make up those days after Ramadan.

This exemption is a mercy and not a deficiency. Women are rewarded for their intention, and there is no sin in missing fasts due to menstruation.

A woman is permitted to use birth control pills to postpone her menstrual cycle during Ramadan if she wishes to complete all 30 days of fasting and anticipates difficulty in making up missed fasts later. This is allowed in Islamic law provided that:

It does not pose any harm to her health, she consults a qualified medical professional beforehand, and her intention is to support her worship, rather than to unnecessarily interfere with her natural cycle.

It is essential to remember that Islam offers women compassion and ease; missing fasts due to menstruation carries no sin. However, if a woman chooses to delay her period for a valid and practical reason, she is acting within the bounds of Islamic permissibility.

References:

لَا ضَرَرَ وَلَا ضِرَارَ

Qawaid al Fiqhiya Pg 28

الضرر يزال

Qawaid al Fiqhiya Pg 30

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham