It is almost time to go to hajj. Many young, and old, for the first time for their nth time, are preparing to go to hajj this year. Some newly married couples, some alone, some as families. Either way, it is a very exciting time. Their ihrams, their hajj classes, their bags and accessories. Learning about such a delicate, and possibly once in a lifetime opportunity, is overwhelming. And the last thing you want to do, it makes a small mistake that will render the whole act of worship is void and invalid. So, we pay attention to what the instructors are telling us, and what the groups in social media is directing us to do and prepare for.
As a pharmacist and a student of the Islamic seminary, there is one thing I would like to point out to the many sisters who are going to hajj. It is a sensitive topic, and not one that I will delve in to very deeply, however, awareness is paramount and education is of utmost importance in such manners. The sisters would be aware of the challenges around performing any religious duties and the purified state one must be in. This includes ablution and ghusl. However, the issue of being in a state of purity is not always in the hands of the individual, and sometimes, a cycle will interrupt this state and everything will be crumbled and all your time and effort will go to waste.
So many are recommended safe and effective “pills”. They are sometimes called oral contraceptive pills or birth control pills, hormone tablet, or just “the pill”. What ever you call them, they are often sold to you as being safe and effective and with no side effects.
This is not always true. While studying pharmacy as a university student, we studied this so-called miracle of the medical world. The pill that has affordably liberated women and set them free from the chains of motherhood and accidental and unwanted pregnancies.
Well, that was one point of view. I can let you rest assured while studying this topic and as a single unmarried man that I was, I decided, following the science behind them, that I would never allow my wife-to-be to ever use them for whatever reason.
Why?
The pill functions by providing the body with an alternative dose of hormones called oestrogen and progestogen. Without getting too much in to details, it prevents pregnancies by doing a number of things including thinning of the womb lining and stopping ovulation. In doing so, it is manipulating your natural hormonal cycle. And when it does that, it will affect your body and mood. It can have detrimental long term side effects, some of which are known (such as blood clots), and some of which are unknown. It is also suggested that it can also have beneficial effects, such control of acne. But it is the short-term side effects that I want to briefly focus on.
Your body: Changes in the body will occur. It won’t be appropriate to discuss in detail here, but, your body will change. If you get what I mean. Some swelling might occur, some enlargement, some pain, some tenderness. You may even get some breakthroughs.
You should be prepared for such events, find out from others what they have used and how they have been affected, and was there anything they did to ease these issues. Some things you can’t do anything about until the body gets used to it which in some cases will take some months. Or never. When should I start them so as to avoid any such issues, and insure my body has adjusted in time for the event?
What are the jurisprudential rulings if breakthroughs or spotting occurs?
These are just SOME of the questions you should be aware of if you decide to take them.
Your mood: Your mood will change. As it is, we know that while undergoing the natural hormonal cycle, the mood gets affected. When the cycle is being push around by the dumping of hormones that are outside that normal natural cycle, one can only imagine what would happen.
If you are travelling with your newly married spouse, they should also be aware of the potential side effects. As your mood and behaviour may change, and it is not likely to be for the better, being ready for it is better than suddenly finding a frustrated grumpy moody woman while on travel.
So, is there an alternative? There are some alternative options which are not as convenient nor as straightforward and some are not even reversible. One massive life changing example is to, well, get pregnant. Plan your pregnancy to coincide with the pilgrimage. Yes… like I said, this is a massively life changing method of doing it, but for couples looking forward to starting a family, this is definitely an option.
The other way is to plan to go to hajj if you have a stable cycle, during a time that falls in the appropriate timeframe. This may not be so easy to do, but is an option none the less….
While the prospect of Hajj is undoubtedly exciting, it’s crucial to approach it with careful consideration and preparation, particularly regarding the use of oral contraceptive pills. Awareness of potential side effects, exploration of alternatives, and seeking guidance from knowledgeable sources are essential steps in ensuring a fulfilling and spiritually rewarding pilgrimage experience. I pray you all have a successful hajj, and ask that you pray for the hastening of the reappearance of the Imam of our time.
