Delaying Menstruation in order to Fast the Whole of Ramadan

09/07/2012| IslamWeb

Question:

May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.
I am a married woman and I have a ten-month-old baby. Can I take tablets to delay menstruation during Ramadan, because I want to fast the whole month, knowing that my menstruation would coincide with the last seven days of Ramadan and I long for Ramadan, especially the last ten days. Also, I am currently using a contraceptive (IUD). Is it recommended to use these tablets during breastfeeding? If it is possible, would you please prescribe tablets which are suitable for me and do not affect breastfeeding.
Thanks.

Answer:
In the Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Ever-Merciful
Dear sister,
May the peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.
I do not advise you to take tablets for this purpose for several reasons: one of them is that Allah The Almighty has permitted women to leave prayer and fasting during menstruation. Allah likes that His concessions be observed just as He likes that His obligations are fulfilled. Taking such tablets does not affect breastfeeding; rather, it affects menstruation, especially when an IUD is being used. Many women suffer menstrual disorders when they take any hormones in the presence of an IUD.
In case you decide to take the tablets, you have to start taking them 10 days before menstruation and then continue to take them until the end of the month of Ramadan. This means that you have to take them for 17 days. There is no guarantee that there will be no spotting at all during this period. So, I advise you to perform the Istikhaarah (guidance-seeking) prayer first and consult a doctor in this regard.
Allah is The Bestower of success.