Ramadan 2019 – Day 12 : Seeking Spirituality during the Menstruation
Just as one is slowly getting in to the rhythm of fasting and praying, women have to deal with their monthly period or postnatal bleeding. It is not easy to stay positive at times like these, especially when they see people around them rushing to masaajid for taraweeh prayers, spending time in ‘itikaaf and reciting the Quran. This can lead us to feeling deprived of the reward of this blessed month, and often this feeling ends up decreasing our spirituality rather than increasing it.
Many feel that having their period in the middle of the Ramadan is the worst thing that can happen to them, but it doesn’t have to be! Even during Menstruating women can evolve spiritually and seek the blessings. Let us have a look at how they can achieve this! –
Now is not the time to fall back into bad habits, you can still participate and earn the blessings of this holy month. I’m sure you spend plenty of time online, and/or listening to your iPod. Yes, Apple has an app for that. You can listen to and read Qur’an from your iPhone, iPod, or favorite web browser. You may actually find yourself reading more than you realize, too! If you read a minimum of five pages of Quran per day, and most likely you will be done by the end of Ramadan.
Islam is the straight path that leads to the pleasure of Allah subhanaa wa ta’ala and ultimate success in the aakhirah. However, praise be to Allah, the path of Islam is broad, i.e. there is a huge variety of good deeds one can do to come closer to Allah subhaana wa ta’aala. Likewise, there are many other ways of achieving spirituality while we are on our menses (or going through postnatal bleeding) besides salaah, siyaam and ‘itikaaf. This was exemplified for us through the practice of the wife of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam.
Narrated Maimuna, the wife of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam, “During my menses, I never prayed, but used to sit on the mat beside the mosque of Allah’s Apostle…” (Bukhari)
Here are a few practical suggestions of good deeds that a Muslimah can do while she is menstruating or has postnatal bleeding.
At the time of the adhaan
Repeat after the adhaan
Make du’a for the intercession of the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam after the adhaan Allaahumma Rabba haathihid-da ‘watit-taammati wassalaatil-qaa’imati, ‘aati Muhammadanil-waseelata walfadheelata, wab ‘ath-hu maqaamam-mahmoodanil-lathee wa’adtahu, [‘innaka laa tukhliful-mee’aad] (O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and established prayer. Grant Muhammad the intercession and favor, and raise him to the honored station You have promised him, [verily You do not neglect promises]). [Reference: Bukhari & Bayhaqi]
Make du’a between the adhaan and iqaama. Invocation during this time is not rejected.
When you wake up
“Alhamdu lillaahil-lathee ‘ahyaanaa ba’da maa ‘amaatanaa wa’ilayhin-nushoor.” (Praise is to Allah Who gives us life after He has caused us to die and to Him is the return.) [Reference: Bukhari]
“Laa ‘illaha ‘illallahu wahdahu la shareeka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa ‘alaa kulli shay’in Qadeer Subhaanallahi, walhamdu lillaahi, wa laa ‘ilaha ‘illallahu, wallaahu ‘akbar, wa laa hawla wa laa Quwwata ‘illaa billaahil-‘Aliyyil-‘Adheem, Rabbighfir lee.” (There is none worth of worship but Allah alone, Who has no partner, His is the dominion and to Him belongs all praise, and He is able to do all things. Glory is to Allah. Praise is to Allah. There is none worth of worship but Allah. Allah is the Most Great. There is no might and no power except by Allah’s leave, the Exalted, the Mighty. My Lord, forgive me.) [Reference: Bukhari]
In the Morning (after fajr) / Evening (before maghrib)
“A ‘oothu billaahi minash-Shaytaanir-rajeem. Allaahu laa ‘ilaaha ‘illaa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyoom, laa ta’khuthuhu sinatun wa laa nawm, lahu maa fis-samaawaati wa maa fil-‘ardh, man thai-lathee yashfa’u ‘indahu ‘illaa bi’ithnih, ya’lamu maa bayna ‘aydeehim wa maa khalfahum, wa laa yuheetoona bishay’im-min ‘ilmihi ‘illaa bimaa shaa’a, wasi’a kursiyyuhus samaawaati wal’ardh, wa laa ya’ooduhu hifdhuhumaa, wa Huwal- ‘Aliyyul- ‘Adheem.”
(I seek refuge in Allah from Satan the outcast. – Allah! There is none worthy of worship but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens to them in this world, and what will happen to them in the Hereafter. And they will never encompass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.) [Reference: Al Hakim]
During afternoon time
Listen to an Islamic lecture or read an Islamic book
At maghrib time
Help people break their fast by offering them dates and water
Host an iftaar for family and guests
At isha time
Have family circle time at home and have a member of the house recite the Qur’an to the rest of the family followed by tafseer of those ayaat
Before sleeping
Cup your palms together, blow gently into them and recite Surat’l-Ikhlaas, Surat’l-Falaq, and Surat’l-Nas. Then pass your hands over as much of your body as you can reach, beginning with the head and then face, then the entire front of your body. Do this three times. [Reference: Bukhari]
Recite Ayat’l-Kursi. [Reference: Bukhari]
Recite last 2 verses of Surat’l-Baqarah. [Reference: Bukhari]
Recite Surah Mulk. [Reference: An Nasai]
At the masjid
Shake hands with sisters and spread salaam at the masjid, especially engaging with newcomers.
Sponsor iftaars at various masaajid if possible
Volunteer for masjid clean up afterwards [1]
Babysit during taraweeh so that the mothers (and everyone else!) can pray with khushu’ and concentration [1]
Make a playlist of beautiful Qur’an recitation and du’as and distribute it at the masjid [1]
Memorize ayaat of the Quran.
Purifying yourself after your menses
After your menses has ended, you must purify yourself through a process called ghusool before you can begin fasting and resume praying as normal. First, remove all your jewelry or anything that may get in the way of the water touching your skin, and un-braid any braids or pony tails that you may have in your hair. Bathe your private parts, and pour three cup fulls of water of your hair, making sure that water gets to your scalp.
Then continue your ghusool as you would when making Wudhu. But before you wash your feet, bathe and wash your entire body until you are fully clean. Then, wash your feet and end your ghusool by saying the shahada: Ashhadu inna la ilaha illa Allah, wa ashhadu inna Muhammadun rasool Allah. Remember, the water should touch every single part of your body – if even one hair remains dry, your ghusool is not valid!
If, for some reason, your menses has continued for more than 15 days, perform ghusool as stated above, and go back to your praying and fasting as you normally would. Scholars differ on the number of days, between 11-15 days. They all agree however that it is not considered to be your menses but rather a discharge. You simply purify yourself before each prayer, then pray and fast as normal.
Don’t let something as small as your menses get in between you and your blessings. Remember that Ramadan is not simply about giving up food, praying, and fasting, but it is truly about purifying your heart and your deeds.
