Source: Derived from the rulings in the book 500 Questions and Answers for Women, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
Question:
If a menstruating or postpartum (Nifas) woman becomes pure before Fajr but takes a bath (Ghusl) after Fajr, will her fast be valid?
Answer:
Yes, if a menstruating or postpartum woman becomes pure before Fajr and takes a bath after Fajr, her fast will still be valid. This applies because she is now among those eligible to fast. This ruling is analogous to a person in a state of Janabah (major impurity) who does not bathe until after Fajr. The fast of such a person is also valid.
"فَالْآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۚ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ"
(“So now have relations with them and seek what Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night].”)
[Surah Al-Baqarah: 187]
This verse permits intimacy and eating until the appearance of Fajr, which implies that taking a bath (Ghusl) after Fajr is permissible without affecting the validity of the fast.
"أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم ، كان يصبح جنبا وهو صائم"
(“Indeed, the Prophet (ﷺ) would wake up in a state of Janabah (major impurity) due to marital relations and still observe his fast.”)
[Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 1830; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1109]
This Hadith indicates that the Prophet (ﷺ) would perform Ghusl after Fajr while fasting, confirming that the fast remains valid.
(Answered by Sheikh Muhammad bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen, رحمه الله)
Question:
If a menstruating or postpartum (Nifas) woman becomes pure before Fajr but takes a bath (Ghusl) after Fajr, will her fast be valid?
Answer:
Yes, if a menstruating or postpartum woman becomes pure before Fajr and takes a bath after Fajr, her fast will still be valid. This applies because she is now among those eligible to fast. This ruling is analogous to a person in a state of Janabah (major impurity) who does not bathe until after Fajr. The fast of such a person is also valid.
Evidence from the Quran:
Allah Almighty says:"فَالْآنَ بَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَابْتَغُوا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۚ وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكُمُ الْخَيْطُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الْخَيْطِ الْأَسْوَدِ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ"
(“So now have relations with them and seek what Allah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night].”)
[Surah Al-Baqarah: 187]
This verse permits intimacy and eating until the appearance of Fajr, which implies that taking a bath (Ghusl) after Fajr is permissible without affecting the validity of the fast.
Evidence from Hadith:
Aisha (رضي الله عنها) narrated:"أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم ، كان يصبح جنبا وهو صائم"
(“Indeed, the Prophet (ﷺ) would wake up in a state of Janabah (major impurity) due to marital relations and still observe his fast.”)
[Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 1830; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1109]
This Hadith indicates that the Prophet (ﷺ) would perform Ghusl after Fajr while fasting, confirming that the fast remains valid.
Conclusion:
If a menstruating or postpartum woman becomes pure before Fajr but delays her Ghusl until after Fajr, her fast is valid. She is akin to a person in a state of Janabah at the onset of Fajr, whose fast is also not invalidated.(Answered by Sheikh Muhammad bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen, رحمه الله)