❀ Ruling on Post-Menstruation Ghusl After Fajr for a Fasting Woman
Source: Fatāwā Arkan-e-Islam
✦ The Question
If a menstruating woman becomes pure (طاہر) before Fajr but delays her ghusl (ritual bath) until after Fajr, is her fast valid?
✦ Shar‘i Ruling
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
✔ Yes, the fast is valid, on the condition that the woman has become pure before Fajr, even if she takes the ghusl after Fajr.
However, this is subject to the condition that she is absolutely certain that her menstruation has ended before dawn.
✦ Important Conditions and Clarifications
❖ Certainty of Purity Before Fajr
◈ The woman must be sure that she became pure before Fajr.
◈ Many women assume they are pure while in reality they are not yet completely clean.
◈ For this reason, women used to send cotton swabs to ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) to confirm signs of purity.
She would say:
"لا تَعجَلْنَ حتى تَرَينَ القَصَّةَ البيضاء"
"Do not hasten (to consider yourself pure) until you see the clear white discharge."
❖ Making the Intention for Fasting
◈ Once purity is confirmed, the woman should immediately make intention for fasting —
even if she bathes after Fajr.
❖ Avoiding Delay in Ghusl
◈ Ghusl should not be delayed unnecessarily, especially to the extent that Fajr prayer is missed.
◈ The correct practice is to bathe promptly so that Fajr salah is offered on time.
✦ Clarification of a Common Mistake
It is reported that some women:
✘ Become pure just before or after Fajr,
✘ But delay their ghusl until after sunrise,
✘ Saying that they prefer to bathe in daylight for better cleanliness.
This is an incorrect practice. Whether in Ramadan or outside it:✔ A woman must not delay her ghusl beyond Fajr time,
✔ So that she can pray Fajr within its time frame, which is obligatory.
If a woman wishes to bathe again after sunrise for added cleanliness, she may do so,but the first ghusl for removing major impurity (janābah or ḥayḍ) must be done without undue delay.
✦ Same Ruling for Junub (Sexually Impure) Individuals
◈ Just like the menstruating woman, if a junub man or woman delays ghusl until after Fajr, their fast remains valid.
◈ The Prophet ﷺ himself would be junub at Fajr due to intimacy with his wives and would still fast, performing ghusl after Fajr.
Evidence:
This is reported from authentic Hadith in both Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim.
✔ Conclusion:
| Scenario | Ruling on Fast | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ❀ Purity from ḥayḍ before Fajr, ghusl after Fajr |  Fast is valid | Must confirm purity before Fajr |
| ❀ Ghusl delayed beyond Fajr without excuse |  Not ideal | Fajr prayer must not be missed |
| ❀ Junub person doing ghusl after Fajr | Fast is valid | Based on practice of Prophet ﷺ |
Making niyyah (intention) after certainty of purity is sufficient. Delaying ghusl till after Fajr does not invalidate the fast, but promptness is encouraged.ھٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
