I Mistook Regular Bleeding for Menstruation and Broke Fast. What Should I Do?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: Assalam alaykum,
During my fast in ramadan I thought I started my menstruation, so I broke my fast. I also didn’t fast the following day due to this reason. Later that day I found out that it was bleeding due to some other cause.
What should I do about the fasts I have missed?
Answer: Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah,
You would need to make up (qada’) both days of fasting, yet you would not be required to perform an expiation (kaffara).
The reason for this is that there is sufficient doubt (shubha) and unclarity in the exiting of blood when a menstrual period is due, and expiation is warded off by doubts.
Please also see: When Is Expiation Required For A Fast?
[Sughdi, al-Nutaf fi al-Fatawa; Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah with Tahtawi’s Gloss]
And Allah Most High alone knows best.
قال الإمام الشرنبلالي في مراقي الفلاح: ((ومن له نوبة حمى أو عادة حيض لا بأس بفطره على ظن وجوده فإن لم يوجد اختلف في لزوم الكفارة والأصح عدم لزومها عليهما)) اهـ.
وفي الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح: ))قوله: “ومن له الخ” يعم الذكر والأنثى والتذكير في له نظرا للفظ من قوله: “لا بأس بفطره” أفاد أن الأولى أن لا يفطرا حتى يتحققا وعلل في الشرح جواز الفطر بأن ما ذكر بحكم الغلبة كالكائن قوله: “والأصح عدم لزومها عليهما” وكذا هو المعتمد في الغازي كما في الدر)) اهـ.
وفي النتف: ((والرابع امرأة رأت دما فظنت انه دم حيض فافطرت ثم انقطع دون ثلاثة أيام … فان صوم هؤلاء يفسد وعليهم القضاء دون الكفارة وعليهم ان يمتنعوا بقية يومهم عن الاكل اذا علموا وليسوا بصائمين)) اهـ.
wassalam,
[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam
Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadh Tabraze Azam was born and raised in Ipswich, England, a quiet town close to the east coast of England. His journey for seeking sacred knowledge began when he privately memorized the entire Qur’an in his hometown at the age of 16. He also had his first experience in leading the tarawih (nightly-Ramadan) prayers at his local mosque. Year after year he would continue this unique return to reciting the entire Quran in one blessed month both in his homeland, the UK, and also in the blessed lands of Shaam, where he now lives, studies and teaches.
