Ruling on Women’s Prayer During Childbirth in Hanafi Fiqh
Question:
Is it true in Hanafi fiqh that if a woman is in the process of giving birth and the time of prayer is about to end, she should perform the prayer first?
Answer:
Yes, it is mentioned in Hanafi fiqh that if a woman is delivering a child and one of the baby’s hands has emerged, while she fears the time of prayer will end, then she should perform the prayer first and then continue the delivery—provided that no harm reaches the child.
❀ The Hanafi scholars wrote:
ما لو كان فى بطنها ولد فأخرجت إحدى يديه وتخاف خروج الوقت تصلي بحيث لا يلحق الولد ضرر لأن الجمع بين حق الله وحق الولد ممكن كما فى التجنيس
“If a woman has a child in her womb, and one of its hands comes out while she fears the end of prayer time, then she should pray first provided that the child is not harmed. This is because it is possible to combine the right of Allah with the right of the child, as mentioned in at-Tajnīs.”
(البحر الرائق لابن نجيم الحنفي: 199/2، فتاویٰ فیض کرمانی: 275/3، بہشتی زیور، حصہ دوم ص 48، نفاس کا بیان)
The scholars who describe Hanafi fiqh as the true extract of the Qur’an and Hadith should reflect: can such an embarrassing and absurd ruling truly be considered part of the religion?
The jurisprudence of the hadith scholars is rooted in the Book and the Sunnah. They were well-versed in the Qur’an, Hadith, the sayings of the Salaf, and the consensus of the Ummah. Their ijtihād was founded upon these principles, unlike rulings that lack any basis in revelation.
Question:
Is it true in Hanafi fiqh that if a woman is in the process of giving birth and the time of prayer is about to end, she should perform the prayer first?
Answer:
Yes, it is mentioned in Hanafi fiqh that if a woman is delivering a child and one of the baby’s hands has emerged, while she fears the time of prayer will end, then she should perform the prayer first and then continue the delivery—provided that no harm reaches the child.
❀ The Hanafi scholars wrote:
ما لو كان فى بطنها ولد فأخرجت إحدى يديه وتخاف خروج الوقت تصلي بحيث لا يلحق الولد ضرر لأن الجمع بين حق الله وحق الولد ممكن كما فى التجنيس
“If a woman has a child in her womb, and one of its hands comes out while she fears the end of prayer time, then she should pray first provided that the child is not harmed. This is because it is possible to combine the right of Allah with the right of the child, as mentioned in at-Tajnīs.”
(البحر الرائق لابن نجيم الحنفي: 199/2، فتاویٰ فیض کرمانی: 275/3، بہشتی زیور، حصہ دوم ص 48، نفاس کا بیان)
The scholars who describe Hanafi fiqh as the true extract of the Qur’an and Hadith should reflect: can such an embarrassing and absurd ruling truly be considered part of the religion?
The jurisprudence of the hadith scholars is rooted in the Book and the Sunnah. They were well-versed in the Qur’an, Hadith, the sayings of the Salaf, and the consensus of the Ummah. Their ijtihād was founded upon these principles, unlike rulings that lack any basis in revelation.
