The holy month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and a time when many Muslims across the world fast during daylight hours for 29 — 30 days. Muslims taking part in Ramadan do not eat or drink anything during daylight hours — eating one meal (the ‘suhoor’ or ‘sehri’) just before dawn and another (the ‘iftar’) after sunset. 

Not all Muslims decide to fast, and even Muslims who fast may not know completely how this differs for those of the opposite sex, therefore it is really important to educate yourself on this topic. People have different ways they practise fasting during Ramadan — today ScreenMe is going to look at this from a women’s health perspective and see how men and women fast differently, if this is something they have chosen to do. 

1. Women do not fast on their period 

• Menstruating women are not allowed to fast.  

• This rule applies should she start her period at any point between the entrance of Fajr (start of fasting), and the entering of Maghrib (end of fasting). 

• In similar terms – as long as you are bleeding during fasting (daylight) hours, you are not required to fast. 

• This also extends to women who are experiencing post-natal bleeding (lochia)

2. Once your period stops 

• Once you have stopped menstruating, you must perform a purification bath (ghusl), start praying, and then continue with fasting as usual. 

• If your period stops mid-way through the day 
• If you stop bleeding between the entrance of Fajr and the entrance of Maghrib, then you are required to fast for the remainder of the day. 
• However, this day does not count as a fasting day, and you must make it up at a time when you are able to. 

3. Pregnant women are not expected to fast 

• These rules extend to women who are breastfeeding. 
• There are some differences of opinion on whether pregnant and breastfeeding women should fast during Ramadan, however the consensus is that if a woman is worried that fasting will harm herself or her child(ren) she is exempt from fasting. 
• This is not always clear cut, and every woman will be different — but a reasonable fear is one that is deemed as: 
  • Being based off past experience 
  • Signs and symptoms that she has reason to worry 
  • Being informed by an expert, doctor, or Muslim scholar 
• Ultimately, this is the woman’s decision — and she can skip fasting entirely while pregnant or breastfeeding, do alternate days, or whatever best suits her own circumstance. 
• Women will then make up these days missed at a later date, when they are able to fast.

4. Missed fasting days can be made up at a later date 

• If any days of fasting are missed by a Muslim during Ramadan, they are required to make these up missed days at a time when she is able to do so. 
• This something you are able to decide yourself, and can be done whenever. 

5. Women’s role 

• It is also important to consider the varying roles of women and men with regards to meal time — not just in Muslim households, but across the majority of societies across the globe. 
• There has increasingly been protest surrounding the perceived expectation that women must be the ones to prepare the iftar, following a day of fasting. 
• Many have proclaimed that this is unfair, and highlights the uneven housework that ALL women often do. With UK men in 2022, on average being found to still do 70 mins less housework each day than women — this is clearly something that occurs across all parts of society. 
• This is not to say that we think this work is not something to be really proud of, or whether women want to do such work or not. However, as societal expectations and attitudes change, it is important to firstly acknowledge the great work that (many — but by no means all) women do feed the household during Ramadan whilst fasting. 

We hoped that this has helped you, whether practising fasting or not — better understand what many of your friends, colleagues, relatives, or peers are doing this month. We at ScreenMe are champions of diversity, and believe that by better understanding those around us, we can be more compassionate, thoughtful and caring. 

Ramadan Mubarak. 

Jessica Hobbis