Should I Make up the Prayers I Missed Because of My Periods?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: I recently learned that islamically, menstruations do not last more than 10 days. My periods usually last for 8 days. Someone told me that if my period happens to last for 10 days, then I will have to make up the prayers for the extra 2 days as well. Is this true?
Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,
No, you do not need to make up up the prayers you didn’t pray during your menstrual period because such prayers were not obligatory upon you in the first place. [Mawsili, al-Ikhtiyar]
This is due to the hardship normally entailed in making up so many prayers on a recurring basis, and the fact that the female companions of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) didn’t used to do so.
It is related from Mu’adha that a woman asked ‘A’isha, “Should we make up the prayer when we become clean?” She said, “Are you from Harura’? [i.e. are you a Kharijite? ] When we were with the Prophet, we got our menstrual periods and he did not command us to do that.” (or she said, “We did not do that.”) [Bukhari]
Please also see: Making Up for Fasts Missed Due to Illness and Menstruation
ِAnd consider getting hold of Ustadha Hedaya Hartford’s: Coming of Age, A Muslim Girl’s Guide.
And Allah Most High alone knows best.
قال في المختار: ((وهو يسقط عن الحائض الصلاة أصلا))
wassalam,
Tabraze Azam
Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
