Ruling on Making Up Missed Prayers Due to Menstruation: Scholarly Opinions Source:
This article is derived from the book 500 Questions & Answers for Women, a compilation of Fatawa by the Scholars of the Haramain. Translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
❖ Question:
If a woman begins menstruating at 1:00 PM (during the time for Ẓuhr) and had not yet performed the prayer, is she obligated to make up that Ẓuhr prayer after becoming pure?
❖ Answer:
There is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding this issue:
① First Opinion: No Qadā’ Required
- According to some scholars, the woman is not required to make up the missed prayer.
- Reason: She committed no sin or negligence.
- In Islamic law, it is permissible to delay the prayer until the end of its allotted time, so long as the prayer is performed before the time expires.
- Since her menstruation began before she could pray, and within the valid time frame, she is not held accountable for missing it.
② Second Opinion: Qadā’ Is Obligatory
- Other scholars hold that she must make up the missed Ẓuhr prayer.
- They refer to the general hadith of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:
"من أدرك ركعة من الصلاة فقد أدرك الصلاة"
“Whoever catches one rak‘ah of the prayer has caught the prayer.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 555, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 607]
- According to this view, if she had enough time to pray even one rak‘ah before her menstruation began, she is obligated to make up the prayer.
Preferred View for Caution (احتیاط):
Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn رحمه الله recommends:
As a matter of caution, the woman should make up the missed prayer, Because it is only one prayer, and making it up involves no hardship.
(Fatwa by: Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-‘Uthaymīn رحمه الله)❖ Summary:
| Opinion | Ruling |
|---|---|
| No Qadā’ | Permissible delay; no fault; not required to make it up |
| Qadā’ Required | Must make it up due to general hadith on catching a rakʿah |
| Cautious View (Iḥtiyāṭ) | Make up the prayer to be on the safe side |
