What is the ruling on the fast of a woman who experienced light bleeding outside of her regular menstrual cycle, and the bleeding continued while she was praying? Is it permissible for her to complete the six days of Shawwal fast?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The default assumption for blood discharged from a woman, not due to childbirth, is that it is menstrual blood, unless proven otherwise.
If there is a period of 15 days or more between the onset of the blood and the end of the previous menstruation, then it is menstrual blood (hayd), which prohibits prayer and fasting. Fasting in this case is not counted.
However, if the blood appears before 15 days have passed since the end of the previous menstruation, then it is irregular vaginal bleeding (istihada), which does not prohibit prayer or fasting.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/63742
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 63742
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy