Is my fast valid if my period starts just before sunset?
It depends on whether the bleeding actually came before sunset. According to most scholars, if period blood appears before the sun has fully set, even a few minutes before, that day's fast is not valid and you make it up later. If you only felt cramps or other signs and the blood appeared after Maghrib, many scholars say the fast is valid.
What most scholars say
Fasting is not valid while a woman is in her period, and this applies to the last minutes of the day as well. The Prophet's ﷺ wife Aisha explained that in his time women were ordered to complete the fasts they missed during their periods but not the prayers (Sahih Muslim 335). Because the period has started, the day does not count, no matter how close it was to sunset.
A small number of scholars hold a more lenient view. The majority view is the safest one to follow unless your own teacher says otherwise. If this has happened to you and you feel uneasy, ask your imam or a trusted female scholar. This is a case of scholars giving different judgments, and it's not a sin to follow a scholar you trust.
Signs versus blood
- Blood came out before sunset: the day is not valid. Make it up later.
- You felt cramps, heaviness or other signs, but saw no blood until after Maghrib: many scholars say the fast is valid, since the ruling depends on the blood actually appearing.
- You're not sure whether you saw anything: doubt doesn't cancel a fast. If you are unsure, you can continue and not worry, and ask a scholar afterwards.
What to do when it happens
- You may stop fasting right away. You don't need to wait for the adhan, since the day isn't counting anyway.
- Stop praying until your period ends. You don't make up the missed prayers. See Do I have to pray while on my period?
- Make up one day after Ramadan for each fast that was invalidated. No penalty or fidya applies. See Do I have to make up missed Ramadan fasts?
- Keep making dhikr, dua and giving charity. You can still join iftar with family and friends.
When your period ends, do ghusl before praying again. See When can I pray again after my period ends?
The opposite situation
If your period ends before dawn and you see that you are clean, most scholars say you fast that day, even if you only do ghusl after Fajr. Make your intention at night, and do your ghusl as soon as you can so you don't miss the Fajr prayer. For the wider picture of fasting during periods, see Can women fast on their period?
- Most scholars say period blood before sunset invalidates that day's fast.
- If blood appears only after Maghrib, many scholars say the fast is valid.
- Make up one day later, with no penalty.
- Ask a trusted scholar if you're unsure about a particular case.
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