Question:
If a woman is in a state of janabah (i.e., an obligatory ghusl remains due), can she prepare suhoor and fast?
In the Light of the Qur’an
Allah the Exalted says:
وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّرُوا
“And if you are in a state of janabah, then purify yourselves.”
In this verse, Allah has made ghusl a condition for prayer, but He has not mentioned any prohibition regarding fasting.
In the Light of the Hadith
(A) Permission to eat suhoor and fast in a state of janabah
➊ The Prophet ﷺ’s own practice
Hadrat Aisha and Hadrat Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with them both) say:
“The Prophet ﷺ would be in a state of janabah at the time of Fajr (i.e., he had not performed ghusl), then he ﷺ would perform ghusl and fast.”
This hadith makes clear that if ghusl is not performed before Fajr, fasting is still permissible; that is, suhoor may be eaten in a state of janabah, and after that one may perform ghusl and pray.
➋ The Prophet ﷺ’s explanation in response to a companion’s question
Hadrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man asked the Prophet ﷺ:
“I rise in the morning in a state of janabah, can I fast?”
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Yes, you may fast, for I too do so.”
This hadith establishes that it is not necessary to perform ghusl before suhoor for fasting.
(B) The ruling on eating and drinking (i.e., preparing suhoor) in a state of janabah
➊ Hadith: The believer does not become impure
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The believer does not become impure.”
This hadith shows that a person in a state of janabah is impure for prayer, but this is no obstacle to eating, drinking, preparing suhoor, or speaking.
➋ The position of the jurists
The jurists are agreed that for a person in a state of janabah, performing wudu for eating and drinking is recommended (preferable), but not obligatory.
If a woman is busy preparing suhoor and needs to eat and drink without ghusl, she may eat and drink.
If she performs ghusl afterwards and offers the Fajr prayer, her fast will still be valid.
Conclusion
If a woman is in a state of janabah, she may prepare suhoor and also fast.
It is not necessary to perform ghusl before eating suhoor or preparing suhoor.
However, performing wudu before eating suhoor is preferable (better).
Ghusl may be performed after Fajr and prayer offered, and this will have no effect on the fast.
Therefore, if a woman is not in menstruation or post-natal bleeding but only has obligatory ghusl of janabah, she may prepare suhoor, eat, and fast without performing ghusl.
