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What Do I Do If My Mum Stops Me From Performing Religious Duties?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Seekersguidance.org

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat 

Question:

Assalamu ‘alaykum.

If my period ends on the 5th day (Isha Time), am I required to perform a ghusl in that time and pray? The problem is that my mom may not let me do so at night. She only allows me to take a bath after Sunrise or at Dhuhr time and does not let me a bath at night at all, so what to do? Will I be sinful for not performing Isha and Fajr on time due to this issue? My mom may create a big scene.

Answer:

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

This is a difficult situation, and you have to approach it with wisdom. Yes, performing each prayer on time is an obligation. One would be sinful for missing them without a reasonable cause, such as forgetting to pray or unintentionally sleeping through a prayer time.

There issue here, however, is to know why your mother does not allow you to perform a ghusl at that time. Perhaps it is based on a cultural understanding. In many Muslim cultures, ladies do not disclose the time of their menstrual cycle, and doing so is taboo. She may think that performing a ghusl at that time might lead to members of the household inferring that.

She might just be superstitious or have another understanding that she sees as more important than the prayer at that time. It is important to determine this in order to reason with her.

If she will listen to you, approach the topic at a time when she is calm and open to discussion. Bring the topic up without an accusing tone or wording. Find out what her reason is. If it requires clarification, get her the relevant information. It is also to gently impress on her the importance of the prayer and that it is the first thing a servant is asked about on the Day of Judgement.

If you’re the right person for this, then speak to her. Otherwise, find someone who she is likely to listen to. Pull at her heartstrings if you have to: say you pray and then donate the reward to her parents of another late loved one of hers.

Ask Allah for help at the outset, and try to find a way out which leaves you with a blood relationship with your mother and able to fulfill the rights of Allah.

May Allah facilitate the matter for you.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

 

This answer was collected from Seekersguidance.org. It’s an online learning platform overseen by Sheikh Faraz Rabbani. All courses are free. They also have in-person classes in Canada.

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