Assalaamualaikum,
If my monthly cycle (menstruation) starts when I am fasting, should I break my fast immediately or should I wait until iftaar on that day?
الجواب وباللہ التوفیق
If the menstrual period starts during fasting then the fast becomes فاسد (undone) and in this condition keeping resemblance of the fasting persons and remaining hungry is not correct because to fast during menstrual period is Haraam, therefore, to stay away from eating and drinking is like resemblance of a Haraam act and that is not permissible. Tahaawi R.A. says:
Yes! Considering the respect of Ramadan one should avoid eating in public as doing it firstly, there is the respect of Ramadaan in it, secondly, it is the demand of حیا modesty too as eating drinking will express and announce the condition of impurity. On the contrary, if the woman was impure and became pure during day time of Ramadan then it is necessary for her to stay away from eating and drinking in the resemblance of fasting persons.
ولو حاضت المرأة أو نفست بعد طلوع الفجر فسد صومھما ؛ لأن الحیض والنفاس منافیان للصوم لمنافاتھما أھلیة الصوم شرعاً بخلاف القیاس بإجماع الصحابة رضي اللہ عنھم)بدائع الصنائع، ۲: ۶۰9، ط: دار الکتب العلمیة بیروت)
’’ وأما فی حالۃ تحقق الحیض و النفاس فیحرم الامساک؛ لأن الصوم منھما حرام والتشبہ بالحرام حرام ‘‘(امداد الاحکام ج ۲؍۱۴۱)
يجب الإمساك بقية اليوم على من فسد صومه وعلى حائض ونفساء طهرتا بعد طلوع الفجر(نور الایضاح:۱/۱۰۹)
واللہ اعلم بالصواب