O ye who believe, fasting is obligatory upon you, as prescribed for those before you, that ye may fear Him (Quran Surah Al-Baqarah 183).
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Ramadan has ended, Muslims around the world share
the happiness with paying zakat fitrah and celebrating victory after a month-long of fasting. Exercises to keep the passions and anger, and our worship should not be reduced after a month of Ramadan.
Muslimah .. there are things that should be carried out prior to the next year Ramadan, that are qadha (making up) fasting and pay fidyah. Here is a brief explanation about qadha, especially for Muslim women.
As we all have understood that woman, healthy and sane, ought to fast, like prayer, except during menstruation and childbirth. However when we do not perform prayer because of menstruation or childbirth we DO NOT have to qadha (replace) the prayer; on the other hand, we have to DO qadha of fasting in Ramadan. Because prayer is so many (for example 5 days menstruation multiply by 5 times prayers or 25 time prayers), it will burden Muslimah. While fasting to be replaced during Ramadan is limited, only five days (average) in one month.
As written in the Fiqh Women, when a woman has menstruation or childbirth, even if only for a few moments just before sunset, and she is fasting, then her fast is cancelled and she is obliged to perform qadha in other day. Since menstruation and childbirth, she is not permitted to continue her fasting until her menstruation and childbirth stop.
Meanwhile when her menstruation or childbirth stops though only for a short time, then she immediately must INTEND to fast even though the bath (to purify) can be implemented after that. Thus, the INTENTION is obligatory, although the fast has not been realized yet. Therefore it is allowed if she eats, without convicted as a woman who breaks her fast.
A Muslim man cancelled his fast during Ramadan, is still WAJIB (OBLIGED) to hold his break to respect the holy month. Fasting that cancel on the day is obligatory to be replaced in other day. Unlike Men, women are SUNNAT (NOT OBLIGED) to hold herself after fasting is cancel, according to Shafi’i. However, she is obliged to hide her break.
Ayesha RA answered a woman who asked a question to her:
“Why do menstrual women should qadha her fast while prayer is not?.” Then Siti Aishah said: “Are you a woman of Haruriyah?” That is, are you a woman of Khawarij? Because of the Kharijites called Haruriyah.
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To conclude, there is no contention that the days you cancel in Ramadan fasting is obligatory to qadha in the other day. This is including when in the past or the youth we were not fasting after we were baligh (mature) we have to qadha immediately. It is never too late to qadha our fast as we are given the opportunity to live by Allah SWT.
Eid Mubarak!
