Itikaf for Females at Home | Period During Ramadan

Shar’i rulings regarding Islamic Sisters

Performing Supererogatory (Nafli) I’tikaf in the Home?

Question 1: What do the honourable scholars and Muftis of the Shari’ah say regarding this matter that in order to attain the blessings of the month of Ramadan, can a woman perform voluntary I’tikaf in the Masjid of her house?

Questioner: Nu’man Attari (Lateef Abad Number 10)

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

Answer: A woman is permitted to perform supererogatory I’tikaf in the masjid of her house, be it in Ramadan or out of Ramadan. It is stated in Tahtaawi ‘Alal-Maraqi:

وللمراۃ الاعتکاف فی مسجد بیتھا ولا تخرج منه اذا اعتکف فلو خرجت لغیر عذر یفسد واجبه وینتھی نفله

A woman can do I’tikaf in the masjid of her house. Once she has sat for I’tikaf she will not leave it; if she leaves it without a valid excuse, her wajib I’tikaf will become invalid and her supererogatory I’tikaf will end, (Tahtaawi ‘Alal-Maraqi, p. 699).

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم

Answered by: Mufti Naveed Raza Attari

Approved by: Mufti Fudayl Raza Attari

The menstruation period of a woman in Ramadan

Question 2: What do the honourable scholars and Muftis of the Shari’ah say regarding this matter that a woman began her monthly menses (Haydh) according to her habit, on the 2^nd of Ramadan, and the menses ended according to her habit on the 7^th of Ramadan. Then bleeding again started on the 14^th of Ramadan. Will this be considered the regular menses, and will the fast be vitiated due to this?

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

Answer: There has to be a gap of at least fifteen days between two menstrual cycles. The bleeding before the fifteen days is not considered menses and is deemed is intermenstrual bleeding (Istihadah), i.e., abnormal bleeding caused by an illness. Therefore, the bleeding on the 14^th of Ramadan, is not menses but intermenstrual bleeding. And because intermenstrual bleeding does not nullify a fast, her fast has also not been vitiated.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم

Answered by: Muhammad Sarfaraz Akhtar Attari

Approved by: Mufti Fudayl Raza Attari

Miscarriage during the waiting period (‘Iddah)

Question 3: What do the honourable scholars and the Mufti’s of the Shari’ah state regarding this matter that my uncle passed away, and at the time of his death his wife was pregnant. After twenty days of his passing, she had a miscarriage. The question is, has the ‘Iddah (waiting period) ended or will she have to wait four months and 10 days?

Note: The limbs of the foetus had formed.

بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

Answer: The ‘Iddah of a pregnant woman is till she gives birth. In the case of miscarriage, if all or some of the limbs of the foetus have formed, then this too will be considered giving birth and therefore it is considered the end of the ‘Iddah. Therefore, in the aforementioned case, if the limbs of the foetus had formed, then as soon as the miscarriage happened, her ‘Iddah ended.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صلَّی اللہ علیہ واٰلہٖ وسلَّم

Answer by: Mufti Fudayl Raza ‘Attari