Answer
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
The Muslim woman is allowed to take pills to stop menses during Ramadan. If she does so to continue observing fasting, then her intention is a good one and Allah will reward her for such a good intention.
In responding to your question, the late Sheikh Sayyed Mutawalli Ad-Darsh, Former Head of the UK Shari`ah Council, states:
The majority of Muslim scholars, as far as I know, do not consider such an act as being tantamount to tampering with nature.
Rather, it is considered an act of regulation with the aim of allowing women who would rather avoid their periods in order to participate with people in fasting Ramadan and performing Hajj at ease.
There is nothing wrong with women using pills or available resources to block menstruation and have chance to perform their acts of worship during such times.
Moreover, Dr. Rif`at Fawzi, Former Professor of Shari`ah at Cairo University, adds:
There is nothing wrong, as far as Islam is concerned, if a woman takes such pills during Ramadan in order to be able to continue fasting the whole blessed month without interruption.
However, we have to keep in mind that a woman is allowed to do so while being guided by the following conditions:
- Taking such pills must not result in putting her life and health at risk.
- It is better, before taking such medication, to seek the advice of a reliable physician.
For more details, please see these fatwas:
Does Chronic Bleeding Break Your Fast?
Can I Continue Fasting If Menses Comes Midday?
Can Menstruating Women Fast If Small Amount of Blood Appears?
Allah Almighty knows best.
Editor’s note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholar’s archive and was originally published at an earlier date.