A woman asked 'A'isha: Should one amongst us complete prayers abandoned during the period of menses? 'A'isha said: Are you a Haruriya? When any one of us during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was in her menses (and abandoned prayer) she was not required to complete them.
The Book of Menstruation - Sahih Muslim 335 a
A woman asked 'A'isha: Should one amongst us complete prayers abandoned during the period of menses? 'A'isha said: Are you a Haruriya? When any one of us during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was in her menses (and abandoned prayer) she was not required to complete them.
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith establishes a fundamental principle in Islamic jurisprudence: women are exempt from performing obligatory prayers during menstruation and are not required to make up missed prayers afterward.
'A'isha's response "Are you a Haruriya?" refers to the Khawarij sect known for extreme rigidity. Her rhetorical question indicates this inquiry reflected an incorrect understanding contrary to established Prophetic practice.
The ruling is based on divine wisdom - menstruation involves physical discomfort and ritual impurity that makes prayer difficult. This exemption is a mercy from Allah, not a deficiency in worship.
Scholars unanimously agree this exemption applies only to obligatory prayers, not to missed fasts which must be made up later, demonstrating the nuanced nature of Islamic legal rulings.
Legal Implications
Menstruating women should not pray, fast, perform tawaf, or touch the Quran during their period.
Upon purification, women resume prayers at their appointed times without making up what was missed during menstruation.
This ruling applies to all obligatory prayers missed due to menstrual bleeding, whether the flow began before or during prayer time.