Commentary on the Hadith Concerning the Menstruating Women Making up the Fasts and not Prayer

Praise be to Allah,

It was narrated Mu’aadhah said: I asked ‘Aa’ishah (R.A): “Why do menstruating women have to make up missed fasts but not missed prayers?” She said, “Are you a Harooriyyah?” I said, “I am not a Harooriyyah, but I am asking.” She said, “That used to happen to us and we were commanded to make up fasts but were not commanded to make up prayers.”[i]

Important Points Derived from the Hadeeth:

1. That the woman in menses must make up the missed fasting, but not the missed prayers. This might be due to the fact that the prayers are repeated five times daily. It is a continuous act of worship that would be a hardship if it were required to make up the prayers missed during menses.

2. Whenever the Prophet (PBUH) approved of something done by the Muslims, it is considered as a part of his Sunnah.

3. Whenever someone asks a question for the sake of being argumentative and rebellious, he or she should be reprimanded and scolded.

4. Clarifying the knowledge for one who seeks it for the sake of learning and being guided.

5. The fact that the woman in menses does not have to make up the missed prayers due to it being a hardship, is one of the pieces of evidence that confirms the General Islamic Rule: Inna-l-Mashaqqah Taj-libu at-Tayseer: Verily! Hardship or Difficulty Brings About Facility (easing of the law).

Click here to know more on the Fiqh principle of Ease And Removal Of The Difficulty

6. Being content with mentioning the legislated proof without having to mention the wisdom as the believer is convinced by it because the Islamic law contains wisdom in any case.

Note: The Khawaarij: The first sect in Islam to split from the way of the Prophet (PBUH) and his Companions (R.A). They arose during the Rule (Khilafah) of ‘Alee (R.A), making rebellion (Khurooj) against him, because of the arbitration between him and Mu’aawiyah (R.A). From their false „Aqeedah (belief) is allowing rebellion against the legitimate Muslim ruler – whether pious or wicked and declaring a Muslim to be a Kaafir (disbeliever) who will remain in the Hell-Fire forever due to commission of a major sin. They disassociated themselves from both ‘Alee and Uthmaan (R.A). They gathered in a place named “Haroora” which is located about two miles from Kufa and is also known as Harooriyah in this respect.

Allah Knows Best.

Copied from Sources:

Arousing the Intellects with the Explanation of Umdatul Ahkaam. The Book Of At-Taharaah by Allama Sheikh Salih Ibn Uthaymeen (May Allah have mercy on him). page  113

Tayseer al-Allaam Sharh Umdatul-Ahkaam by Shaykh Abdullah ibn Abdur – Rahmaan Aal Bassaam. Page 85

[i] Saheeh Muslim, Volume 1, Book 3, Hadeeth Number 763, p. 451