Using pills that prevent menstruation

Shaykh Ibn Baaz

Question: There are pills that prevent menses or delay their occurrence. Is it allowed for a woman to use such pills during the time of Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) only out of fear of her menses arriving?

Response: It is allowed for a woman to use pills that prevent her menses during the time of Hajj out of fear that her menses may come. But this should only be done after she has consulted with a (health) specialist who can ensure that her health will be fine. Similarly, she may do the same during Ramadan if she desires to fast with the people. ⁽¹⁾

The Standing Committee

Footnotes

(1) There seems to be no need for women to go to such lengths. This could probably be considered a kind of overzealousness. There is no real certainty as to the health risks of such pills as well as birth control pills. Furthermore, the menses are a natural matter that Allah has ordained for women and there is no need to flee from them. Hence, it must be considered best for women to abstain from such pills since there is no necessity for them and they (women) cannot be certain of their side effects. Allah knows best

Discontinuation of bleeding during menses

Question: Sometimes, during my menses, I have blood for four days and then the bleeding stops for three days. Then, on the seventh day the bleeding returns, but with less intensity. Then, the bleeding turns to a brown colour until the twelfth day. I hope you will guide me to what is correct in this matter.

Response: The days that you mentioned, the four and the six day periods (i.e., the first to the fourth day, and then the seventh to twelfth day), are days of menstruation. You should not pray or fast during those days. It is not allowed for your husband to have sexual intercourse with you during those days either. You should make Ghusl (ritual bathing) after the first four days and then pray, and your husband may have intercourse with you during the period between the fourth and the sixth days. Also, there is no prohibition upon your fasting during these days.

If that occurs during Ramadan, it is obligatory upon you to fast on the days that you are not on your menses. When you become pure after the second six days (i.e., the seventh to twelfth days), you must make Ghusl, pray and fast like any other time of purity. This is because the monthly menses can increase or decrease. Its days are sometimes together and sometimes separated. May Allah guide us all to what pleases Him. May He provide us, you and all the Muslims with understanding and steadfastness in the religion.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz

(1)   In response to this question, the Shaykh has basically given the Hanbali view of the question. There are some other views which may be more significant that state the entire period is that of menstruation (i.e., the full 12 days in this case). Allah knows best

Drops of blood after making Ghusl

Question: I notice that sometimes after making the Ghusl that follows my monthly menses, after having had my period for the normal five days, I have a very small number of drops (of blood) emerging. This occurs immediately after I make Ghusl. After that, nothing else emerges. I do not know what to do. Should I follow my normal five-day period and simply ignore what occurs after that and continue to pray and fast? Or should I consider that day also as part of my period and not pray or fast during it? Note that such a thing does not always occur to me, but only occurs every two or three monthly cycles. I hope you will benefit me on this matter.

Response: If what emerges after your washing is either yellow or brown, then it is not to be taken into consideration (as menses) and it takes the same ruling as urine^.(1)

However, if it is clearly blood, it will then be considered part of the menses and you must repeat the Ghusl due to what is confirmed from Umm 'Atiyyah who was a female companion of the Messenger of Allah who stated: "We would not consider yellowish or brownish discharge as anything⁽²⁾ after we had been purified [from menses]." ⁽³⁾

Shaykh Ibn Baaz

Footnotes

1. Meaning, it must be washed off the clothing and the person must make ablution from such a discharge.

2. That is: "We would not consider it as menses."

3. Recorded by Al-Bukhari

If a woman ends her menses before sunset, she must perform the Thuhr and 'Asr Prayers

Question: When a menstruating woman becomes pure before sunrise, is it obligatory upon her to perform the Maghrib and 'Ishaa' prayers? Similarly, if she becomes pure before sunset, is it obligatory upon her to perform the Thuhr and 'Asr prayers?

Response: If a menstruating or post-partum bleeding woman becomes pure before sunset, it is obligatory upon her to perform both the Thuhr and 'Asr prayers, according to the strongest opinion among the scholars. Similar is the case if she becomes pure before dawn. In that case, she must perform the Maghrib and 'Ishaa' prayers. This has been narrated from Abdur-Rahman Ibn 'Awf and 'Abdullah Ibn 'Abbas . This is the opinion of the majority of the scholars. Similarly, if a menstruating or post-partum bleeding woman becomes pure before sunrise, it is obligatory upon her to perform the Fajr (dawn) prayer. And from Allah is guidance.

Shaykh Ibn Baaz

The menstruating woman keeping herself clean from urine

Question: When I am menstruating, I do not clean myself of urine with water because I fear that the water may harm me. What is the ruling concerning that?

Response: It suffices, in place of water, to clean yourself with clean tissue paper or any other pure solid object that will remove the impure substance, such as a large stone, a piece of wood, or similar objects. This wiping should be done three times or more, until the impure substance is removed. This ruling is not just for you or anyone in a case like yours; rather, it is for all Muslim men and women under all circumstances. This is based on what has been confirmed from 'Aa'ishah that the Prophet said: "When one of you goes to relieve himself, he should clean himself with three stones, and that will be sufficient for him." [Ahmad & Others]

It is also confirmed from Salman Al-Farisi that it was said to him: "Your Prophet teaches you everything, even how to go to the lavatory." Salman replied: "Certainly! He prohibited us from facing the Qiblah (direction of the Ka'bah) while defecating or urinating, from cleaning our genitals with our right hand, from cleaning ourselves with less than three stones and from cleaning ourselves with dung or bone." [Muslim, Abu Dawood & At-Tirmithi]  

Q & A on menstruation and post-partum bleeding –II