Do women make up prayers missed during their period?

Detailed answer

No. A woman does not pray during her period and does not make up those prayers afterwards. This is the agreed position of the scholars. It is a mercy from Allah: prayers come five times a day, and making up a week of them every month would be a real hardship.

What the Quran and Sunnah say

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was asked why a woman makes up missed fasts but not missed prayers. She answered: "That used to happen to us, and we were commanded to make up the fasts, and we were not commanded to make up the prayers" (Muslim). The Prophet (peace be upon him) also described the time of menstruation as a time when a woman "does not pray and does not fast" (Bukhari).

In practice

• When the bleeding stops, take a ghusl (full ritual bath) and start praying from the prayer that is due.
• If your period ends while a prayer time is still running, pray that prayer, even if only a little of its time is left. For example, if you become pure before sunset, you pray Asr.
• Many scholars add that if you become pure in the time of Asr you also pray Dhuhr, and if you become pure in the time of Isha you also pray Maghrib, because these pairs can be joined for people with an excuse.
• If your period starts after a prayer time has begun and you had not yet prayed, most scholars say you make up that one prayer once you are pure.

Checking the exact times helps here; you can use the prayer times for your city.

Fasts are different

Ramadan fasts missed during your period must be made up later, one day for each day. See making up fasts after your period.

Staying connected

Not praying does not mean being cut off from Allah. During your period you can still make dua, remember Allah, listen to the Quran and give charity. See reading the Quran during your period for what many scholars allow.

You are not missing out: you are following what Allah asked of you, and that itself is rewarded.