Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
Those who argue that if she becomes pure before sunset, she must pray both Dhuhr and ‘Asr, and if she becomes pure before Fajr, she must pray both Maghrib and ‘Isha, base their opinion on the fact that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would combine Dhuhr and ‘Asr, and Maghrib and ‘Isha prayers. Therefore, they claim that when the times of Dhuhr and ‘Asr overlap or Maghrib and ‘Isha overlap, the woman must perform both prayers upon purity.
In refutation of this view, Hafiz Ibn al-Mundhir (رحمه الله) (d. 318 AH) writes:
"The time in which the Prophet ﷺ combined two prayers is different from the time when only the duration sufficient for one rak'ah before sunset remains. The Sunnah permits the combining of prayers when both are performed during their valid times, such as combining Dhuhr and ‘Asr at ‘Arafah and Maghrib and ‘Isha at Muzdalifah, or combining prayers during travel — all of which are permissible and are in accordance with following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. However, a situation where only enough time remains to perform one rak'ah before sunset is different. If a person delays both Dhuhr and ‘Asr without excuse until only time for one rak'ah remains before sunset, he would perform one rak'ah before sunset and the rest after sunset, which — by consensus of all scholars — makes him sinful and disobedient to Allah."
Thus, equating the combining of two prayers with the situation of catching one rak'ah before sunset is incorrect and impermissible.
Furthermore, the scholars unanimously agree that a woman in a state of menstruation is not obliged to perform prayers. However, there is a scholarly difference concerning whether she needs to perform Dhuhr if she becomes pure at the end of ‘Asr time. There is consensus that she must perform ‘Asr; the disagreement is only about Dhuhr. Therefore, it is not permissible, without clear evidence, to obligate Dhuhr upon her in such a case.
Additionally, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Whoever catches one rak'ah of ‘Asr prayer before sunset has caught the ‘Asr prayer."
(Al-Awsat by Ibn al-Mundhir: 2/344-345)
From this hadith, it is clear that she is only required to perform ‘Asr, and not Dhuhr.
Question
If a woman becomes pure from menstruation before sunset or before the Fajr (dawn) prayer, what should she do?Answer
If a woman becomes pure before sunset, she should perform the ‘Asr prayer. If she becomes pure before the Fajr prayer, she is not required to perform the ‘Isha prayer.Those who argue that if she becomes pure before sunset, she must pray both Dhuhr and ‘Asr, and if she becomes pure before Fajr, she must pray both Maghrib and ‘Isha, base their opinion on the fact that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would combine Dhuhr and ‘Asr, and Maghrib and ‘Isha prayers. Therefore, they claim that when the times of Dhuhr and ‘Asr overlap or Maghrib and ‘Isha overlap, the woman must perform both prayers upon purity.
In refutation of this view, Hafiz Ibn al-Mundhir (رحمه الله) (d. 318 AH) writes:
"The time in which the Prophet ﷺ combined two prayers is different from the time when only the duration sufficient for one rak'ah before sunset remains. The Sunnah permits the combining of prayers when both are performed during their valid times, such as combining Dhuhr and ‘Asr at ‘Arafah and Maghrib and ‘Isha at Muzdalifah, or combining prayers during travel — all of which are permissible and are in accordance with following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. However, a situation where only enough time remains to perform one rak'ah before sunset is different. If a person delays both Dhuhr and ‘Asr without excuse until only time for one rak'ah remains before sunset, he would perform one rak'ah before sunset and the rest after sunset, which — by consensus of all scholars — makes him sinful and disobedient to Allah."
Thus, equating the combining of two prayers with the situation of catching one rak'ah before sunset is incorrect and impermissible.
Furthermore, the scholars unanimously agree that a woman in a state of menstruation is not obliged to perform prayers. However, there is a scholarly difference concerning whether she needs to perform Dhuhr if she becomes pure at the end of ‘Asr time. There is consensus that she must perform ‘Asr; the disagreement is only about Dhuhr. Therefore, it is not permissible, without clear evidence, to obligate Dhuhr upon her in such a case.
Additionally, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Whoever catches one rak'ah of ‘Asr prayer before sunset has caught the ‘Asr prayer."
(Al-Awsat by Ibn al-Mundhir: 2/344-345)
From this hadith, it is clear that she is only required to perform ‘Asr, and not Dhuhr.
