Answered by: Maulana Muhammad Afzal Hussain

Question

Does a Muslim woman have to make up the prayers she missed while on her period?

In the name of Allah the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Menstruation extinguishes the liability of the menstruating woman for prayer. [See: Al-Hidayah, chapter: Menstruation and Extended/ Irregular Bleeding]

Narrated by Mu’adha: A woman asked ‘Aishah “Should I offer the prayers that which I did not offer because of menses.” ‘Aishah said, “Are you from the Haraura’ (Meaning are you one of the Khawarij. Harura is a place associated with a group of Khawarij. They regard it essential to make up the obligatory prayers that are missed during menstrual cycles). We were with the Prophet and used to get our periods but he never ordered us to offer them (the Salat missed during menses),” or ‘Aishah; said, “We did not offer them.” [See: Bukhari: 321, Chapter: There is no Salat (prayer) to be offered by a menstruating woman in lieu of the missed Prayer during her menses. And the Prophet, said, “The lady (in her menses) must leave her Salat. Muslim: 335, Sunan an-Nasai: 382]

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Maulana Muhammad Afzal Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham