It’s my Dua (supplication) every Ramadan - to miss my period so I can fast a full Ramadan - but it’s only happened once in the decades I’ve been fasting. It was usually downer, especially when I’d started off the month fasting. Nonetheless, over the years, a shift in perspective, and a shift in action have helped me better manage that dreaded “time of the month” that, on the surface, seems to take away from the beautiful spirituality unique to Ramadan. Here are some things I’ve started doing.
1. Mindset Shift: Not Fasting Is Part Of Ramadan Worship. We are ordered to fast to build Taqwa (God-consciousness) in Ramadan through fasting (Quran 2:183). But we are also ordered to not fast during our period. Not fasting is an act of worship because we choose what Allah wants for us above what we want.
Action: Seek out other ways to worship outside of praying and reading the Quran in Arabic.
-We can make Dua (supplication) at any time and in any state. So you can plan to sit down facing the Qiblah (direction of the Ka’ba) at the designated prayer times and remember Allah through Dhikr and Dua.
-You can also plan to eat something at those times (e.g. Do Dhikr and Dua at Dhuhr time in the early afternoon right after lunch, eat a snack after Dhikr and Dua once Asr prayer’s time starts in the late afternoon, etc.). Eating is an act of worship because we are not fasting.
2. Feed others: This of course does not need to be said in most households, including in the United States, where the vast majority of cooking and food management is done by women - although men have gained some ground since 2003.
Prophet Muhammad, God’s peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever gives Iftar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his (or hers), without that detracting from the reward of the fasting person in the slightest” (Tirmidhi, 807; Ibn Majah, 1746).
Action: This is a good time to sign up to cook or get Iftar catered for your local Masjid, the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) at the nearest campus, or host family and friends at your home. Also, don’t forget to invite those who are alone this Ramadan.
-Side note: Many Muslim women, in particular, have started catering businesses from home, often due to financial hardship. If you choose to have Iftar catered, order from them to offer your support and Sadaqa (charity) this way.
3. Help manage food waste by offering to consume or drop off leftovers. The world wastes about 2.5 billion tons of food every year. In the U.S. we throw out more food than any other country in the world: nearly 120 billion pounds every year. That’s estimated to be almost 40 percent of the entire US food supply, and equals 325 pounds of waste per person.
Action: Some communities have groups that communicate informally on WhatsApp, posting pictures of leftover food for people to claim. Offer to be a driver to pick up and drop off leftovers in Ramadan. Even better: Start up a group like this.
-Contact food recovery programs in your area like Food Rescue and join their volunteer team. If you aren’t able to do that, then find out where you can drop off food from them.
4. Set a Quran goal and stick to it. Ramadan is the month when the Quran’s revelation began, and it is a time when many Muslims can and do increase their reading and recitation of God’s revelation. Many scholarly opinions say women should avoid recitation and reading of the Quran that is not from memory. However, reflecting and trying to understand the Quran via Tafaseer (commentaries) as well as translations is something that can be done at any time.
Action: Aim high and try to read a basic translation of the entire Quran when you have your period in Ramadan. Divide it up over a week or however long you menstruate.
-If that is too much, aim for at least a quarter or half of the translation of the Quran.
5. Don’t stop your Taraweeh schedule: Taraweeh is one of the hallmarks of Ramadan, and offering it in congregation at the Masjid is a highlight of the blessed month. While we cannot pray with everyone, we can still be part of the experience.
Action: Sit in a part of the Masjid where you can see the congregation and hear the recitation of the Quran.
-If you prefer not to attend in person, search for “live Taraweeh 2026” online and watch and listen from home.
6. Catch up on unfinished pre-Ramadan or upcoming tasks: This is a good time to catch up on things that you weren’t able to wrap up before Ramadan or that you may need to still do in the blessed month. This way, you can jump right back into Ramadan with full focus on prayers and fasting once your period is over.
Action: Some tasks you can complete include:
-Ordering Eid gifts and clothes
-Deep cleaning the house for Eid
-Paying Zakat and Sadaqa
7. Take on tasks or errands a fasting person needs help with: This can include the following:
-picking and dropping off kids to school
-taking a sick parent or family member to and from an appointment
-getting groceries
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