I asked 'A'isha: What is the reason that a menstruating woman completes the fasts (that she abandons during her monthly course). but she does not complete the prayers? She (Hadrat 'A'isha) said: Are you a Haruriya? I said: I am not a Haruriya, but I simply want to inquire. She said: We passed through this (period of menstruation), and we were ordered to complete the fasts, but were not ordered to complete the prayers.
The Book of Menstruation - Sahih Muslim 335 c
This narration from the Mother of the Believers, 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her), addresses a fundamental distinction in Islamic jurisprudence between making up missed fasts during menstruation versus missed prayers.
Legal Distinction Between Fasting and Prayer
The wisdom behind this ruling lies in the different nature of these two acts of worship. Prayer is time-bound with specific intervals, and its obligation lapses during menstruation without requirement for compensation. Fasting, however, concerns the completion of a fixed number of days in Ramadan.
Menstruation prevents the validity of fasting during its days, but the obligation to complete the count of Ramadan remains. Therefore, women must make up the missed fasts afterward, while prayers are excused completely during this period.
Historical Context of the Question
'A'isha's initial response, "Are you a Haruriya?" references the Kharijites (al-Khawarij), who were known for extreme literalism and excessive questioning of established rulings. This indicates that the distinction was well-established in early Islam, and questioning it was seen as resembling deviant groups.
The Companions accepted this ruling as divinely revealed legislation without seeking its underlying wisdom, demonstrating the proper approach to matters established by clear textual evidence.
Scholarly Consensus
This hadith forms the basis of unanimous scholarly agreement that menstruating women must make up missed fasts but not missed prayers. This ruling applies to all menstrual periods occurring during Ramadan.
The preservation of this teaching through the Mother of the Believers shows the importance of female narrators in transmitting knowledge specifically relevant to women's acts of worship.