More on ' Fasts Missed due to Menstruation ' I want to know the answer with references. As what I have learned one has to complete the number of fasts if one misses due to some disease or illness. However, menstruation is neither an illness nor a disease. Can you please clear me on this issue? Reply You have correctly stated that the Qur'an has given an allowance for a person who is ill and is on a journey that he may not fast during Ramadan and later, when his ailment or his journey ends, he should then complete the number of fasts missed. If you look at the two bases of this allowance, they may be classified as reasons that are internal to oneself - illness - and reasons that are external - as a change in the environment and the circumstances as in the case of a journey. Thus, the Qur'an, in essence, has directed the Muslims that if they have to miss their fasts due to any reason whether internal or external to themselves, they should then complete the number of fasts later. Moreover, if you would take a close look at the related verses of the Qur'an ( Al-Baqarah 2: 183 - 185), you would see that that it has greatly stressed completing the number of days prescribed for fasting. Verse 184 opens with the words: "[These are] numbered days", then again in the same verse it says that "thus, whoever among you is ill or on a journey, he should then complete the number [of fats] in other days". In verse 185, the Qur'an says, "And whoever is ill or on a journey, he should then complete the number [of fasts] in other days". Then in the same verse, the Qur'an once again says, "So that you complete the number [of fasts]". This special stress on completing the number of fasts of the month of Ramadan should also help us understand why the Prophet (pbuh) directed women to complete the number of fasts that they miss due to their menstruation. Thus, once when Hadhrat Ayesha (ra) was asked why should a woman complete the number of fasts missed due to her menstruation and not the number of prayers, the umm al-Mumineen is reported to have replied: "This happened to us [during the days of the Prophet] and we were directed [by him] to complete the fasts missed but not the prayers missed" ( Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Haayz ). As far as the basic evidence of the fact that a woman should complete the number of fasts missed due to menstruation is concerned, it is the practical perpetuation of this practice among Muslim women of all times and places (including the Muslim women of the times of the Prophet) and the consensus of the Muslim scholars. It is therefore that in my previous response I only mentioned that "According to the established practices of Muslim women, since the times of the Prophet (pbuh), the number of fasts missed due to menstruation is completed any time after the month of Ramadan". In my opinion, one of the most authentic bases for a religious practice to be correct is that there is practical perpetuation of the Muslims on such practice. I hope this helps. In case any aspect of your question remains unanswered or inadequately answered, please feel free in writing back to me at your own convenience. May Allah guide us all to the path of His liking and grant us the true understanding of His book. Regards The Learner