Is it permissible for a woman who has had a miscarriage to perform fasting and prayers?

The Answer

Dear Brother / Sister,

The decree whether a woman who has had a miscarriage can pray and fast is related to whether the miscarriage is considered as a reason for puerperium or not.

According to Hanafis and Hanbalis, the blood coming from a fetus with organs such as hands, feet or fingers of a woman who has had a miscarriage is regarded as the blood of puerperium; that woman is in puerperium. The blood coming after a miscarriage from a fetus before organs such as hands and feet have become apparent is regarded as the blood of excuse. (see Marghinani, al-Hidaya, I, 226; Ibn Qudama, al-Mughni, I, 431)

It should be noted that the decree above made by Hanafis and Hanbalis was given at a time when whether what came out of the womb was a fetus or something else could be distinguished only based on the appearance of organs such as hands and feet. (see Qasani, Badai', I, 43)

Scholars made different ijtihads based on the medical knowledge of the time when they lived regarding the issue.

Therefore, current medical data should be taken into account. In this respect, when it is medically determined that what is miscarried is a fetus, the blood coming after the miscarriage should also be regarded as puerperal blood. As a matter of fact, according to Shafiis and Malikis, miscarriage in any case is a reason for puerperium. (Ramli, Nihayatul-Muhtaj, I, 212; Dasuki, Hashiya, I, 174-175)

In conclusion, if it is known that the miscarriage is a fetus whether the organs are apparent or not, the woman in question is subject to the decrees of puerperium; it is not permissible for her to fast and to perform prayers.

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