What is the reward for a woman who began the fast of Ashura` and then started her period? A woman is accustomed to fasting the Day of Ashura` to gain reward and draw close to Allah Almighty. However, this year, her menstrual period started while she was fasting, so she broke her fast. Will she be rewarded for her intention to fast even though she did not complete it due to a legitimate excuse?

The Day of Ashura` holds a special place in Islamic law. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regularly observed it, recommended fasting on this day, and encouraged Muslims to fast it. The woman mentioned in the question incurs no sin for breaking her fast because she intended to fast on this day and began her fast as she is accustomed to do every year, only to have her period start while she was fasting. She therefore will receive the great reward of fasting and virtue just as if she had completed her fast, and Allah multiplies the reward for whom He wills.

The virtue of fasting in Islam

Allah Almighty has favored fasting, whether obligatory, voluntary, or as an extra act of worship, from among all other acts of worship with great virtue. Fasting, a great act of worship that draws one closer to Allah Almighty, that integrates complete obedience with sincere devotion to Allah Almighty.

Allah Almighty has reserved this act of worship exclusively for Himself, because of the servant’s quiet sincerity in it, free of any pursuit of ostentation or public acclaim. Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with him) said in a hadith Qudsi, “Allah Almighty said, ‘Every good deed of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting; it is for Me and I shall reward it” (Bukhari and Muslim). Allah almighty has promised the reward of protection from hell-fire to those who seek to draw close to Him through fasting, provided it does not cause harm or lead to neglecting a right. Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he heard the Messenger of Allah (please and blessings be upon him) say, “Whoever fasts a day for the sake of Allah, He will keep him away from hell-fire by a distance of seventy years” (Bukhari and Muslim).

Allah Almighty has reserved a gate in paradise through which those who observed fasting will enter on the day of Judgment. Sahl Ibn Sa’ad al-Sa’dy (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Verily, there is a gate in paradise called al-Rayyan through which only those who observed fasting will enter on the Day of Judgment. No one else will enter through it along with them. It will be said, ‘Where are those who fasted?’ They will stand and no one will enter through it along with them. When they enter [through the gate], it will be closed and no one else will go through it’” (Bukhari and Muslim).

The virtue of fasting on the Day of Ashura`

Whoever fasts on the Day of Ashura`, seeking reward from Allah Almighty and following the example of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) who consistently observed its fast, will attain a great reward. Abu Qatada (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Fasting on the Day of Ashura` — I hope Allah will make it an expiation for the year that came before it" (Muslim). It is established in Islamic law that the fast of Ashura` is a recommended supererogatory fast; the recommendation to fast is even more emphasized on blessed days, one of which is the Fay of Ashura`, as stated in Ihya` Ulum Al-Deen by al-Ghazali (1:237). Abdullah Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went to Medina, he noticed that the Jews fasted on the Day of Ashura`, so he asked, “What is this day you are fasting?” They said, “This is a great day, this is the day on which Allah saved the Banu Israel from their enemy, so Musa fasted on it.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “I have greater claim to Musa than you.” So, he fasted on this day and commanded fasting on it.

The reward for a woman who began fasting on the Day of Ashura` and subsequently starts her period

It is not permissible for a woman to continue her fast if she starts it on the Day of Ashura` and subsequently discovers that her period has started. However, there is a difference of opinion among scholars regarding whether this day must be made up. Once menstrual blood has appeared and it is confirmed to be menstruation, the fast becomes invalid, regardless of when it occurs during the day.

The scholarly consensus on the prohibition of fasting while in a state of menstruation has been transmitted by numerous scholars. Imam Ibn al-Qattan noted in Al-Iqna’ (1:103), “The consensus on the prohibition of praying, fasting, performing tawaf, and sexual intercourse while in a state of menstruation is confirmed without any contention from any Muslim.” Although menstruation prevents a woman from continuing her fast, Allah Almighty does not let her efforts go unrewarded; she is rewarded merely for her sincere intention. Whoever is prevented from performing their regular acts of worship by an unforeseen excuse after making the intention — in this case, fasting — their reward will not go unfulfilled, reflecting the perfection of Allah’s bounty and His mercy. See: Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari by Imam Ibn Battal (10:199-201). This is supported by the general meaning of the hadith narrated by Abdullah Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Verily, Allah has recorded [both] the good and bad deeds, and then made clear that whoever intends to do a good deed but does not do it, He will record it for them as a full reward. And if they intend it and then perform it, Allah will record it for them as ten good deeds, up to seven hundred times, or even many times over” (Bukhari and Muslim).

Abu Huraira narrated that he heard Abu Musa say several times that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “When a servant of Allah falls ill or travels, acts of worship such as what they are accustomed to do when they were well and settled at home will be recorded for them” (Bukhari). This hadith shows that whoever is accustomed to consistently performing a certain act of worship but is prevented from performing it due to a legally valid excuse such as an illness, travel, menstruation, postpartum bleeding, or other similar reasons, Allah will grant them a reward equal to what they would have earned had they not been prevented by the excuse. Moreover, He will multiply their reward just as He multiplies the reward for those who physically perform it, due to the sincerity of their intention, the certitude of their inability, and the absence of any negligence on their part.

The ruling

The woman mentioned in the question does not incur any sin for breaking her fast due to menstruation. She will receive a great reward, just as if she had completed the fast, and Allah Almighty multiplies the reward for whomever He wills.

And Allah Almighty knows best