Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I have two questions:

1- In this holy month of Ramazan, I did sex with my wife at night and we both decided to take bath (Gusl) before sehri, but unfortunately we met with water shortage in sehri, we took sehri but didn’t offered fajr prayers due to unavailability of water, but determined to keep fast. We got water at 8.00 am when fajr time was over, anyways we took bath, offered qaza fajr prayers and keep our fast. In this condition, is we were applicable to keep fast or not?

2- My wife has to give breast feeding to our three months old daughter. In this ‘napaak’ condition, can we give breast feeding or that milk also become ‘napaak’ till we take a bath? Normally, also if women give breast feeding to infants right after sex, is the milk become ‘napaak’ till the gusl or not?

I shall be very thankful to you if me guide me to the right path in the light of islam, as soon as possible.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Fast in janaba impurity

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: ….In this condition, is we were applicable to keep fast or not?

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.153 Narrated by Abu Bakr bin Abdur Rahman

My father and I went to 'Aisha and she said, "I testify that Allah's Messenger (saws) at times used to get up in the morning in a state of ‘Janaba’ from sexual intercourse, not from a wet dream and then he (saws) would fast that day." Then he went to Um Salama (another wife of the Prophet (saws)) and she also narrated a similar thing.

Although it is recommended that one purify oneself immediately after sexual intercourse, there is absolutely no obligation upon the believers that they must purify themselves from the state of ‘janaba’ in order to fulfill their fast.

If one wakes up in the state of ‘janaba’ or post sexual impurity, there is absolutely no harm in that person fulfilling their intention to fast on that day.

Your Question: …My wife has to give breast feeding to our three months old daughter. In this ‘napaak’ condition, can we give breast feeding or that milk also become ‘napaak’ till we take a bath?

The only things or acts one is prohibited to do while in the state of ‘Janaba’ (major sexual impurity) are:

1. visit the masajids
2. perform prayer
3. perform ‘tawaaf’ around the Sacred House
4. touch a copy of the Glorious Quran

A woman still in the state of ‘janaba’ or major sexual impurity is well within her rights to breast-feed her infant child. The physical impurity of the woman has absolutely no bearing on the milk she feeds her child.

Your Question: ….Normally, also if women give breast feeding to infants right after sex, is the milk become ‘napaak’ till the gusl or not?

There is absolutely no harm if a woman wishes to breast-feed her infant child right after she has conjugated with her husband.

If the woman is unable to perform the ‘ghusl’ or full bath of purification to purify herself from her state of ‘janaba’, it is highly recommended that she perform the ‘wudu’ as she would do for prayer and perform her various chores, if she wishes to do so….and take the ‘ghusl’ before she makes herself available for prayer.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 603 Narrated by Aisha

Abdullah ibn AbdulQays said, "I asked Aisha about the Witr (prayer) of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and made mention of a hadith, then I said: ‘What did he (saws) do after having sexual intercourse? Did he take a bath before going to sleep or did he sleep before taking a bath?’ She said: ‘He (saws) did all these. Sometimes he (saws) took a bath and then slept, and sometimes he (saws) performed ablution only and went to sleep.’ I (the narrator) said: ‘Praise be to Allah Who has made things easy (for the believers in the deen).’

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan