Question: What is the ruling on her making up the prayer after her menstrual period ends?
Answer: A vow undertaken during menstruation is invalid. Whoever vows to do something that is forbidden may not carry it out; rather, he must expiate it with the expiation for an oath (kaffārat yameen).
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Question: While sitting my exams I vowed that if I passed I would fast seven consecutive days. After Allah granted me success and I passed, I began to fast in fulfilment of the vow, but I could not keep the seven days in one stretch, so I fasted them on separate days. Is what I did acceptable, or must I repeat them consecutively? And what should I do if I am unable to fast them consecutively?
Answer: When a person vows to fast a number of consecutive days, he must fulfil his vow by fasting those days consecutively; it is not permissible to separate them, for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him.” This is a vow of obedience. Because the questioner fasted the days without maintaining the sequence, she has fallen short of fulfilling her vow. If she broke the succession for a legitimate excuse, as she says, she has two options:
- Start over and fast the seven days anew, consecutively; or
- Complete the remaining days and then offer the expiation for an oath (kaffārat yameen).
The expiation for an oath is well known: freeing a slave; or feeding ten needy persons, each receiving half a sâʿ of the staple food of the land; or clothing ten needy persons, each with a garment that covers him for prayer. She may choose any one of these three. If she is unable to do any of them, she must fast three days.