Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question: Assalamu alaykum
Some scholars say that it is permissible for a woman to eat and drink if she gets menses during fasting but some scholars say that if a woman gets menses while fasting she should not eat and drink until the fast opens. Could you clarify?
Answer: Wa ‘alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh
I pray you are well. Thank you for you question.
There are two rulings regarding eating and menstruation:
1. If a lady starts a day fasting and then her menstrual cycle starts before sunset, she should eat, as this means that the fast of the day does not count. She does not need to imitate those who are fasting, because the ruling of fasting does not apply to a lady who is menstruating or someone has post-natal bleeding. She should eat discreetly though, and not publicly.
2. If a lady’s menstrual cycle ends in Ramadan before sunset, she cannot eat until sunset. This is because when the cycle ended she entered into a state in which the rulings of fasting applies to her, but she cannot fast that day, so out of the reverence due to the month she cannot eat until sunset. The same ruling applies to someone who was not fasting because he was travelling; if he reaches home before sunset, he cannot eat until sunset for the same reason.
(Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah).
I hope that clarifies matters for you.
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat