Menstruating women have the option to pause Ramadan and catch up on missed days later. A beneficial instruction for those who suffer during their period but who is not easy to live with.
What are the instructions for Ramadan during menstruation?
Ramadan corresponds toone of the five pillars of islam and is therefore obligatory for Muslims in good health and able to practice it. “When they have their period, women are exempt from fasting but can make up for the number of days missed at the end of the month of Ramadan“, explains Mah Simpara, vice-president of Lallab, a feminist and anti-racist association.
Why can’t a woman who is menstruating celebrate Ramadan?
“There is no no clear and consensual explanation on why women don’t fast during their periods. There is thus a plurality of interpretations depending on where one is in the world, the societal or family model“, specifies Mah Simpara. The authorization not to fast can be due to health reasons: the physical condition is sometimes weakened by menstruation and pain linked (endometriosis, PCOS etc). “It is then a way for them to be able to rest during this more complicated physical period and not increase fatigue”. But it can also be due to the idea that menstruation is impure. In their article on the subject, the members of Lallab point out that taboo still too present within religion but also of society and denounce: “Because of these ideas, many menstruating people find themselves ostracized during Ramadan.” Indeed, Mah Simpara deplores the fact that many muslim women”must justify themselves, specify that they have their rules which can be a problem in some families or communities when it is commonly accepted not to fast when a person is sick or has a medical contraindicatione”. She also relates that “some menstruating people skip lunch” Where pretend to pray or practice Ramadan normally”so as not to be obliged to answer questions, to expose their intimacy” or face judgment. Of course, this is not systematic and the problem does not arise in many families.
What are the risks of fasting during your period?
In terms of health, you should know that during menstruation,the body expends more energy“and menstruating women can be”more at risk of having an episode of hypoglycemia and suffering from dehydration“, says Léa Lang, nutritionist. Also, during menstruation, the body needs a iron intake to compensate for the loss of this nutrient caused by bleeding, mainly in women with heavy periods. There may be a greater risk anemia. Generally, “It is prescribed for Muslim men and women to not fasting if there is a risk to their health“, says the vice-president of Lallab. But she admits that the acceptance of this instruction is “variable from woman to woman. Some women feel very well during their period, suffer no harm, and regret not being able to continue living the dynamics of Ramadan.
Thanks to Mah Simpara, vice-president of Lallab, feminist and anti-racist association and Léa Lang, nutritionist.