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What is the wisdom behind a woman not fasting, even though fasting has no connection to impurity?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Firstly: A believer must submit to the rulings of Allah the Almighty and obey them, even if the wisdom behind them is unknown. Allah the Almighty says: (And it is not for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter, that they should have any option in their decision).

Secondly: There must be firm faith that Allah the Almighty is All-Wise, and He does not legislate anything except for profound wisdom. This wisdom may be known or it may be hidden.

Thirdly: Scholars have unanimously agreed on the prohibition of fasting for a menstruating woman and the obligation of making up the fast if it was obligatory, such as Ramadan. They have also unanimously agreed that her fast is invalid if she fasts while menstruating. They differed concerning the wisdom behind the invalidity of her fast:

Some said: The wisdom is unknown. Others said: The wisdom is Allah's mercy upon her, because the blood discharge weakens her. If she fasts while menstruating, she would combine the weakness of menstruation with fasting, which could lead to harm. And the Sharia came with justice in all things, and it prohibited fasting for the menstruating woman so that her fasting outside of menstruation remains a moderate fast that does not harm her.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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