Is there a sin on a woman for taking birth control pills so that she does not miss fasting the night of the middle of Sha'ban, the night of Tarwiyah, the day of 'Arafah, and others?
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The questioner : Is there a sin on me for taking birth control pills so that I do not miss fasting days such as the night of the middle of Sha'ban, the night of Tarwiyah, the day of 'Arafah, and others? I ask for your guidance?
The Shaykh : As for using these pills, according to what has reached me, they are harmful, and a person should not take what is harmful, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:29] If it is established that they do not cause harm, with the advice of a doctor, then there is nothing wrong with a woman taking some of these pills so that menstruation does not prevent her from fasting. However, the questioner mentioned fasting the day of the middle of Sha'ban.
The questioner : Sha'ban, yes.
The Shaykh : And this has no basis, for it is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he would single out the day of the middle of Sha'ban for fasting, nor that he would single out its night for standing in prayer. So it is better that the night of the middle of Sha'ban and its day be like the other nights and days.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Also, she mentioned, O Shaykh Muhammad, that she fasts the day of Tarwiyah.
The Shaykh : The day of Tarwiyah is the eighth day.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And it is like the rest of the days of the ten days; it has no special virtue. Rather, the special virtue is for the day of 'Arafah.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For it is established from the Prophet (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him) that he said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 749Da'if (Darussalam) .
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
The Shaykh : As for using these pills, according to what has reached me, they are harmful, and a person should not take what is harmful, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And do not kill yourselves [or one another]
ولا تَقْتُلُوا أَنفُسَكُمْThe questioner : Sha'ban, yes.
The Shaykh : And this has no basis, for it is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he would single out the day of the middle of Sha'ban for fasting, nor that he would single out its night for standing in prayer. So it is better that the night of the middle of Sha'ban and its day be like the other nights and days.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Also, she mentioned, O Shaykh Muhammad, that she fasts the day of Tarwiyah.
The Shaykh : The day of Tarwiyah is the eighth day.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And it is like the rest of the days of the ten days; it has no special virtue. Rather, the special virtue is for the day of 'Arafah.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : For it is established from the Prophet (may Allah's prayer and peace be upon him) that he said:
I anticipate that Allah will forgive (the sins) of the year after it, and the year before it.
أحتسب على الله أن يكفّر السنة التي قبله والسنة التي بعدهThe questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.