بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Alhamdulillah for the many blessings Allah has given women and one of them is when a woman gets her period. I know, it may not seem like a blessing especially with the excruciating pain that you go through during the first couple of days and the constant worry you have before standing up from your seat. But this monthly gift is in fact one of the many blessings Allah has given us and sadly due to the social and cultural negativity around this subject, women often treat it as a burden. It is important that we know that everything Allah has given us is good and that through His infinite wisdom and knowledge He knows what is best for his creation and that He does not burden a soul, rather He has sent this deen to ease our burdens. If we really think about it, if it weren’t for this gift, we wouldn’t be able to experience the unexplainable joy of becoming mothers or healthy women. Therefore it is better to restructure our way of thinking in order for us to better deal with what we have and in turn this will have a positive influence on other women in our lives.
Now the problem arises when we treat it like a “break” from any religious obligations. By that I mean, not involving yourself in religious rituals for 5 or more days which in turn can affect your religious commitment when you’re not menstruating- I’m sure you have all experienced this. Whether you have found it hard to wake up for fajr again or fast Mondays and Thursdays, getting back into this habit is difficult because you have been constantly praying, fasting, waking up early, reading Qur’aan, making dhikr etc and then when you get your period, you suddenly go into “vacation mode” and just “chill.”
Have we really just secluded acts of worship to praying and fasting???
Our imaan weakens when it is not nourished with the remembrance of Allah and if it is neglected then there is no doubt that when it comes time to pray again and you perform ghusul then you will not have motivation to perform acts of worship. You may even begin to eagerly await your monthlies so that you can have a ‘break’ when in actuality this mentality is wrong and akhawaat this may even be the best time to increase your good deeds, and as a muslimah, learn more about this beautiful deen and your role in it. Instead of sitting idle and falling into this false idea of not being able to do anything when you get your period and therefore allowing your imaan to weaken, be more productive during these days and strengthen your relationship with Allah rather than letting it become strained.
‘Aisha narrated : Allah’s Apostle (Peace Be Upon Him) said, “Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah’s is the most regular and constant even though it were little” (Sahih Bukhari)
This hadith just shows that the most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are constant and regular, meaning that there is no “off-time” for both men and women from doing any good deed. It is important that we don’t treat our period as a barrier to reaching a higher state.
Once we have accepted this as a blessing and not an obstruction from performing acts of worship, In’sha’Allah what comes to follow will provide you with tips on ensuring that your imaan is increasing rather than decreasing and make you yearn for waking up for fajr again.
10 Things You Can Do:
1)Listen to the Quran, ponder about its meanings, and cry
Allah says:
“2. We have not sent down the Qur’an unto you to cause you distress, 3. But only as a Reminder to those who fear (Allah)”
(Surah Taha: v.2-3)
In the Tafisr of Ibn Kathir, Qatadah said about these verses:
“No, by Allah, He did not make it a thing of distress. Rather, He made it a mercy, a light and a guide to Paradise.” Allah revealed His Book and sent His Messenger as a mercy for His servants, so that the person who reflects may be reminded. Thus, a man will benefit from what he hears of the Book of Allah, it is a remembrance in which Allah revealed what He permits and prohibits.
So contemplate on the ayaat of Allah!
2) Buy a supplication book and make constant dhikr. Memorise new du’aas you can say in your prayers or memorise hadiths that you can strive to implement in your life.
Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet said, “I love repeating Subhan Allah , Walhamdu lillah , wa La ilaha ill-Allah, wa Allahu Akbar (Glorified is Allah, all praise is due to Allah, and there is no God but Allah, Allah is the greatest) more than all that the sun shines upon.”
(Muslim and Tirmidhi).
Since we cannot pray, we may feel like we are missing out on ibaadah so performing dhikr is a good habit to get into. Don’t let your relationship with Allah suffer any setbacks and instead strengthen it during this time. Dhikr of Allah is not excluded to salaah, rather it can be done at any instance. Allah says:
“ Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”
(Surah al Imran 3:191).
3) Send blessings on our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace).
4) Spend time with your family and loved ones for the sake of Allah. Visit sisters and gather for the sake of Allah.
5) Attend religious lectures and classes to increase your knowledge, as gaining knowledge is obligatory on both women and men. Alhamdulillah, in this day and age, we don’t have to travel long distances by foot to hear one hadith from a scholar. Knowledge is at our very finger tips, but ensure that you are seeking it from the right sources. I recommend going through the Usool-Ath-Thalaatha series by Sheikh Ahmad Musa Jibril on youtube and you can visit this website for course notes: https://towardshuda.wordpress.com/e-learning/courses-by-shaykh-ahmad-jibril/
You can even organise a small halaqah with other sisters at your house and talk about a beneficial topics each time you meet. You could even teach them about how they can take advantage of these couple of days.
6) Read about the lives of the righteous companions, the righteous predecessors and the scholars and strive to be like them. This will only increase your motivation to do more good deeds.
7) Supplicate to Allah! He is all Seeing, all Hearing, All knowing and accepts the du’aa of one who calls on Him.
8) Beg for forgiveness and the pardon of your sins. Let’s face it, with everything going on and the sensitivity of our body we become snappy, oversensitive sometimes sad, mad, glad, hormonal, confused beings. Therefore this is the perfect time to ask Allah for forgiveness for all the wrong actions we may have done and all those we might have wronged in the process. A beautiful duaa I recommend memorising is:
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَمَا اسْتَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلا أَنْتَ
Allahumma anta Rabbi la ilaha illa anta, Anta Khalaqtani wa ana abduka, wa ana ‘ala ahdika wa wa’dika mastata’tu, A’udhu bika min Sharri ma sana’tu, abu’u Laka bini’matika ‘alaiya, wa Abu Laka bidhanbi faghfirli innahu la yaghfiru adhdhunuba illa anta
‘O Allah, You are my Lord, no one has the right to be worshipped except You, You created me and I am your servant and I abide to your covenant and promise as best as I can, I take refuge in you from the evil of which I committed. I acknowledge your favor upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for verily no one can forgive sin except you.’
9) Get involved in your local community and help others.
10) Reflect about your life and thank Allah for all your blessings.
These acts may seem simple and easy to do, and surely deeds that are done with an open heart only for His sake will be rewarded. So don’t neglect your imaan during those 5 or more days and strive to be of those who remember Allah constantly.
May Allah make us of those who are constant in worship and obedience to Him.
And Allah knows Best.
- Ukht Mariam<3
Contemplate 