Short answer
Yes. If your period ends before Fajr, you start the fast and may do ghusl after Fajr. In the Hanafi school, if your period ended before the full 10 days, there must have been enough time before Fajr for ghusl and the opening takbir for that day's fast to count.
Ghusl is not a condition of fasting. If bleeding stops at the full 10 days, she fasts even if only a moment remained before Fajr. If it stops before 10 days, the fast of that day is owed only if enough time remained before Fajr for ghusl and saying Allahu akbar; if not, she holds back for the day and makes it up. She must not delay ghusl so long that she misses the Fajr prayer.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- If the bleeding stops before Fajr she fasts that day, however little time was left; no time for ghusl is required.
- Hanbali
- If the bleeding stops before Fajr she fasts that day, however little time was left.
Explanation
Aishah and Umm Salamah reported that the Prophet ﷺ would sometimes reach Fajr in a state of janabah from his wives, then bathe and fast. The scholars applied this to a woman whose period ends at night: the fast does not depend on ghusl. What matters is that she was free of menstruation at the moment Fajr began.
The Hanafi detail is about when exactly the period ended:
- At the full 10 days (240 hours): the period is over by definition. If this is a moment before Fajr, you fast that day.
- Before 10 days, at or around your usual days: the period counts as over only once you could have done ghusl. So if enough time remained before Fajr for ghusl and the opening takbir, you fast that day and it counts. If not, hold back from food and drink for the day out of respect for Ramadan, and make it up.
- Isha: in the same case, if there was enough time before Fajr, Isha and Witr are owed.
In practice: if you see you are clean late at night, eat suhoor, make your intention, and do ghusl straight away so you do not miss Fajr. Delaying ghusl past sunrise and missing the Fajr prayer is a sin, though the fast remains valid.
See how to do ghusl, suhoor, and period starting during a fast.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:222
وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْمَحِيضِ ۖ قُلْ هُوَ أَذًۭى فَٱعْتَزِلُوا۟ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فِى ٱلْمَحِيضِ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطْهُرْنَ ۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرْنَ فَأْتُوهُنَّ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٰبِينَ وَيُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ ﴿٢٢٢﴾
And they ask you about menstruation. Say, "It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allah has ordained for you. Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves."
Distinguishes the ending of the period from the later act of purifying, which is the basis of the time rule.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1926
Sahih... كان يدركه الفجر وهو جنب من أهله ثم يغتسل ويصوم ...
"Fajr would come upon him while he was in janabah from his wives, then he would bathe and fast."
Shows that ghusl is not a condition of beginning the fast.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Durr al-Mukhtar, Kitab al-Taharah, chapter on menstruation. Bleeding stopping before ten days requires time for ghusl and the takbir for the fast and prayer to be owed.
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Sawm, chapter on the excuses that permit not fasting. Holding back for the rest of the day when the fast does not count.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.