Question
If a menstruating woman becomes pure before Fajr but performs ghusl after the break of dawn, what is the ruling regarding her fast?
Answer
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
If a menstruating woman becomes pure before the break of dawn but performs ghusl after the break of dawn, then her fast is valid. However, there is one condition: she must have complete certainty that she became pure before Fajr.
◈ It is extremely important to pay attention here that the woman must have certainty that she has attained purity.
◈ Some women think that they have become pure, whereas in reality they have not yet become pure.
For this reason:
◈ Women used to send cotton to Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) so that they could show her the sign of purity.
◈ Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) used to say to them:
“Do not be hasty until you see the white discharge”.
Therefore:
◈ A woman should be thoroughly certain that she has become pure.
◈ When certainty of purity is attained, she should immediately make the intention to fast, even if she performs ghusl after the break of dawn.
◈ However, she should not delay the ghusl, so that the Fajr prayer can be offered on time.
Clarification of the Wrong Attitude
We have learned that some women:
◈ become pure before the break of dawn or immediately after it, but
◈ postpone the ghusl until sunrise.
◈ They say that they want to perform ghusl in daylight so that the ghusl is complete, clean and pure.
This practice is wrong:
◈ Whether it is Ramadan or not, such a woman is obligated to perform ghusl immediately so that the Fajr prayer can be offered on time.
Permission for Two Ghusls
◈ The obligatory ghusl is sufficient for prayer.
◈ If she wishes to perform ghusl again after sunrise for additional cleanliness and purity, there is no harm.
The Same Ruling for Junub Persons
◈ Similarly, if a junub man or woman performs ghusl after the break of dawn and is fasting, there is no harm either.
◈ Their fast will be valid.
The evidence for this:
◈ It is also established from the Prophet ﷺ that he would become junub after intercourse with his wives and still observe the fast, while performing ghusl after the break of dawn.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
