Obligation of Fasting and Prayer if Nifās Ends Before Forty Days 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 becomes pure from postnatal bleeding (nifās) before forty days, is she obligated to fast and perform prayer?
❖ Answer:
Yes, if a woman in nifās becomes ritually pure before completing forty days, then:
✔ Fasting becomes obligatory upon her—especially during Ramadan
✔ She is obligated to perform her daily prayers
✔ Her husband is permitted to have marital relations with her
The reason:She is now considered pure, and there is no valid reason to prevent her from fasting, praying, or being intimate.
(Fatwa by: Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-‘Uthaymīn رحمه الله)❖ Summary:
✔ If nifās ends before 40 days, she must:
- Fast (if in Ramadan)
- Pray regularly
- Is lawful for marital relations
✘ The idea that a woman must remain out of worship for the full 40 days regardless of blood cessation is incorrect.
