.||a a‘Sultanate of Oman
ee
Diwan of Royal Court
Sultan Qaboos Centre for Islamic Culture
ee
we!
Oe
Aa
TtSeeonsahs
wa oieaN
)rod
hSOoe
agIne =OoaS
_¢:aeae
Se
eee —Wb ve Asa
etesay ‘ihoe.Ge
~-bree
-eeeS
Pg eeae
Senate
Dedication
The translation is dedicated to
Sultan Qaboos Centre for Islamic Culture
Islamic Information Centre
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Gracious
Sha’ban
17" 1427
September 10"" 2006
 Director of the Administration for Information Planning
 Sultan Qaboos Information Centre, the Diwan of the Royal Court
Subject: Permission of Publication, Printing & Distribution of the English
Translation of “The Guide: Rulings of Menstruation & Postpartum”
I hereby grant the permission to Sultan Qaboos Centre For Islamic Culture,
the Diwan of the Royal Court to publish, print and distribute my English
translation of “The Guide: Rulings of Menstruation and Postpartum” by
Sheikh Bakir MuhammedRashiim on the conditions that the centre shall
reserve the intellectual rights of both the author and translator (myself) and
the publication shall not be used for financial or commercial gain. In case of
the need to reprint the translation of the aforementioned book, the centre
shall inform me personally in order to obtain a written permission for the
reprinting. Many great thanks for your cooperation.
Regards,
Khalsa Hamed Salem al- Aghbari
Lecturer, Department of English, College of Arts & Social Sciences
Sultan Qaboos University
E-mail: khalsah@squ.edu.om
a
The Guide
-_
ann
oe ee
|
ee
eee tk
 e
bt
Rulings of Menstruation and
 ” e
Postpartum Bleeding
SDbeheetet
Bakir Muhammad Rashim
Translated by:
Khalsa Hamed al-Aghbari
© Khalsa Hamed al- Aghbari, 2007
All rights reserved. This translation may not be reproduced in whole
or in part, by photocopy or other means, without written permission
of the translator.
Table of Contents
Translator’s foreword............ccceceeccescccnceecesecesseesesssceeceeceoss
Introduction by Sheikh Naser al-Marmiirl.............ccccccesseeeeeeeeees
Introduction by Sheikh Farahat al-Ja’biri..............cccecce
cee ceeeeeeeee
Author’s introduction............ccccccccceccccccceececsececsecsteecesesseccees
Preface: the verse of menstruation and reason for revelation..........
The importance of the issue..............ccccccececccececcceeecssceevecces
Types Of DIOOd........ccc ccc cece cee cessccceeecsaceeesectecsevssesecececess
Type One: Menstruation
Reasoning behind menstruation.............c.csescccccescccsccececececsccesFf
Definition and characteristics............ccccecceccecsccscsceces ee eeeeeeecess
OAfh
Rulings on non-menstrual blood
Mucous discharges: definition and characteristics............cccccceceees
Signs of cleanliness and purity from menstrual flows.................00O
Menstruation Time and the Interval between Periods.................00—=-
Waiting during menstruation and mucous discharges.............ccceeee
Heavier and lighter menstrual flOWS.............cccccceccecscsscccccccceces14
Irregular bleedings................15
Relating menstrual time to relatives'............csscsccecescccccecesscescoes16
Imam A’rabi’ bin Habib’s rule..16
Advice for the beginner...............cecsccccesscccecscncccccccceccncceeeses17
A practical way for the beginner17
Type Two: Postpartum Bleeding
“Questions and Answers” 19
What is postpartum bleeding?............:csscsssccessecsssesssscsssscessesessseeecsssseneree19
Who is a Confined WOMAN?...........:csssccsscscscsccsseecessssssssccesscsceesssceecessensees19
 When does a pregnant woman refrain from praying fasting?...............++19
For how long does postpartum bleeding last?.................cccccccscssssssseesserees19
 For how long is the waiting period last in the postpartum bleeding?.......19
 How does a confined woman purify herself from her first postpartum19
bleeding time?...............ssssscssssssccecccccccecceccccceerececssesessesesssecceceecsesssccccessceess
 If a woman miscarriages, how long will she confine?.............ssccsscssesssees20
 If a pregnant woman bleeds, what should she do?.................sscssssssesseees21
 Prohibitions On Menstruation.............ccccececccccccccesccccseccccecescesees22
 Sexual INteLCOULSe..........cceesecccccceccccccccceccecececcccceeeseccececececess22
Prayer and fasting............cccccccecsccccscsccccccesccccccececcccccccccesccees23
Walking around the Ka’ba (Tawaif)............cccccscccccceccecccccccccscceces23
Entering mosques and seclusion for WOrSHIpP...........ccccccccccecccecceeees23
Reciting or touching the Qur’an.............ccccceccecceccccccccccccscuccaccees23
Getting divorced...........ccccssscsccecccevseccccecsevssecetcususecesececsesecess24
Applying cupping or cutting related parts (e.g. finger nails)...............24
Combing hair, putting Kohl and henna and using Sewak (a wooden24
DIUSH)......cccccccccccccssccsscsscccsccccccccceccseeceeeeceseceeseesssessesseeesees
Purification from menstruation and postpartum bleeding
Time Of purification...........cccccccssccccsccecccecessceeecsceesssseecneveses26
Manner of purification.............ccccceesseesceeccccecceecteesnceeencseeeses26
Type Three: Prolonged Period
Prolonged period blOOd............cccccessececccceeeeeeeeseeeessseseeseseseeee28
A woman who has a prolonged period.............cccecceceeeceeceeceeeeeeees28
Beginner...... cc ccccccce eee c ccc ccccccnscecccccccceccescsessccesecseceseesececees28
ACCUSTOMEG........cece ec cece cece eee eeneeee een eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeseeeeeeeeeneeereeess28
PLEQMANL.........ccc ccccce eee c cence ceeececeececcenssseecceeseuessccessecescseescenes28
WOMEN 1N MENOPAUSE. .........ceccecccccceeecececcccscuceceeseceeesseseccasecess29
Purification from the prolonged period.............cccccsecsceceeceseseeevess29
Obligatory purification............cece ecceecc cece ceeeeenccccceccecscccecscceseese29
Desirable purification............cccccccesscscccceecescsssceeeeeecesessceesseeees29
Advice for women with a prolonged period.................seeeeeecceeeceees30
Crucial Rules to remember...............ccccccccccccsscesees se eeeeeeeeeeeeees30
CONCIUSION. ......... cece cccceee esse eer seen sense eeee sense ee sseee eee eeesseeeeenseees33
References........ccsessccccccccccesesse eeeeeee sees nese eeeeeeeeeeesseeseeeseeeeecs34
Appendix of Cautioms............cccccccccccc ccccccceecceeeececeeescsscscseeees38
Appendix of Tables.................cccccceeesc eececceecsececeeccesecesessceaees39
2 CCE:| os40
About the Tramslator. .........ccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccscccesccceces42
‘Aishah, the Mother of the Believers - may Allah be pleased with her - says:
“The best of womenare the womenof Ansar'whose shyness does not
 hinder them from asking about their religious duties”
- Narrated by Abu Da’id -
' Ansar are the people of Al- Madina who supported the Prophet - peace be upon
him - when his people in Makkah had tortured him and his followers and thrown
them out of Makkah.
Translator’s Foreword
Praisebe to Allah,myCreatorandSustainer.MayHiseternal
blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him -
andhisCompanionsandfollowerswhohavealwayssoughtAllah’s
satisfaction and approval.
It is my pleasure to offer an accessible English translation to “The
Guide:Rulingsof MenstruationandPostpartum”whichmeticulously
answers the major private concerns of women.The author - mayAllah
reward him for good- has succeeded beyond words in bringing the wonders
 of his experience and knowledgeabout the issues of menstruationand
postpartumbleeding to the close attention of Muslimwomen.Hehas
 delivered his thoughts and ideas in a clear and elegant manner, elucidating
the issues of menstruationand postpartumto the best he can through
 inclusion of tables and diagrams. The book, in its Arabic format, is very
 easy to understand and follow as it includes no complications. I hope the
 English version would be the same.
The English translation is targeted for Muslim Non- Arabic speakers,
thus,I wascareful, throughthe courseof mytranslation,to offera
meaningful translation avoiding word for word rendering and retaining the
major arguments discussed in depth by the author. In translating the verses
of the Qur’4n, I depended on “The Meanings of the Illustrious Qur’an” By
Yusuf Ali. As for the translation of the Traditions of the Prophet, I did the
translations myself. I also included a glossary of the new or unfamiliar
terms mentioned in the body of the book which might be difficult for Non-
Arabic speakers.
I encourage my Muslim sisters to keep a copy of this useful book as
we are obliged to seek good knowledgeand understanding about these
relevant crucial matters. I ask Allah, the Divine, to make my deed of
translating this book exclusively for His sake and lavish me with strength to
carry on with the faculty he bestows on me to benefit Islam and Muslims.
 Khalsa Hamed al-Aghbari, Canada, April 3TM 2004
il
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
May His blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad
and his Companions
lil
Introduction
All praise is due to Allah who creates human beings and never leaves
them out in vain. He legislates rules of guidance for them. Those who abide
by these rules are not led astray and those who abandon them are doomed.
He sent us prophets who were bearers of glad tidings and warnings.
 They guided us to the evident Truth and taught us religion. May Allah’s
 blessings be upon them all. May Allah’s special blessings be also upon our
 Prophet Muhammad, the seal of the prophethood and all who have followed
 him till the Day of Resurrection.
Knowledgeaboutpurificationsof menstruationandpostpartum
 bleeding is of crucial importance. It 1s also an indispensable matter for the
 accurate performance of acts of worship. People who are equipped of this
 knowledge are led straight in this life and the Hereafter. However, those
 who neglect them are doomed. No excuse 1s given to the ignorant.
Allah has afflicted women of Eve with menstruation and postpartum
 bleeding. He obliges them to seek knowledge about the differences between
them and rules which relate to each. Thus, knowledge about menstruation
and postpartum bleeding is mandatory.
Muslim scholars have done their share of explaining and classifying
these matters. They have written about these issues extensively. May Allah
reward them for the best. “Allah suffereth not the reward to be lost of those
who do good” (Qur’an 18: 30).
I have taken a look at this concise book written by my brother Sheikh
Bakir bin Muhammad Rashiim, the obedient and trustworthy scholar. I have
found it useful, well expressedand easily understood.A beginnercan
understand it easily. Obtaining this book suffices to educate oneself about
these matters. Our Muslim daughters need such a reference to answer all
their concerns about menstruation and postpartum bleeding. I looked into it
thoroughly and noticed that it includes our agreed upon Fatwas (Islamic
rulings) and excludes different opinions of others. I urge Muslim women to
1V
refer to it. I also encourage women who constantly travel to keep this as a
great reference. I also ask Muslim women to regard this book as a guide that
enlightens their way to the Truth. Those who Allah has bestowed light on
are not like those in the depths of darkness.
I ask Allah to accept this good deed from the author and reward him
for the best. He is the All-Hearing and All-Seeing. The last of our prayers is
All praise is due to Allah, the Cherisher of all.
Nasir Bin Muhammad al- Marmiri
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most merciful
All praise is due to Allah and the end is (best) for the righteous. May
His blessings be bestowed upon the best of messengers.
Allah, the Almighty,says: “And the male is not like the female”
 (3:36).Thisis a divineversewhichdispelsanintuitivefactthatis
 unarguable except by the disobedient.
A Man is a man and a woman is a woman. They complement each
 other and by this life will be in order. However, blind equality or conflict
 betweenthemresults in chaos.Thebelievingwomanis theonewho
 experiences safety in the guardianship of her father, husband or any of her
 mahrams (persons forbidden for marriage). This guardianship should not be
 understood as dictatorship and oppression but rather as love, care, support
 and cooperation to do good deeds.
We should not elaborate on this matter as it is not part of this book
 which we were asked to introduce. Its title speaks louder than any words.
TheAuthorwantsit to be “TheGuide:Rulingsof Menstruationand
Postpartum Bleeding.”
It is no wonder that the author produced such a book. He has taught
women about these matters for no less than three decades in his hometown
“Baryan”,one of the villages of WadiMizabknownfor its abundant
goodness. How I wish all the villages of the world would take this village as
an example and specify places for women to individually learn about issues
pertaining to them.
Whocansay that menpartner womenin the menstruationand
postpartumbleeding?Wehavetoacknowledgethattheissuesof
menstruationandpostpartumbleedingarenotgiventheirrightsof
explanation in the books of Figh (Jurisprudence) despite the chapters being
allotted to them. This is due to the fact that men not women who always
write about these issues. I hope Muslim women would pursue analyzing
these matters as they are the ones who undergo them. Men only know about
them but they do not experience them.
Vi
Such an urgent hope does not decrease the value of this book because
its author is close to women and he is always asked meticulous questions
with respect to these issues.
Truly,theauthor wascautiousto keepthis bookconcise. This
concision is, however, compact and comprehensive as he has done his best
to extract complications shrouding these matters. Both the beginner and
experienced alike can benefit from this booklet. As will be seen, parts of it
take the form of listings and the other parts of questions and answers.
Whatelucidates these issues even more are the tables, cautions and
rules which extract the basics and highlight them.
MayAllah make this ‘guide’ a true guidance and grant the author
success to benefit Muslims from his experience.
Farahat bin Ali al- Ja’biri.
Vil
Author’s introduction
All praise is due to Allah, the Creator and Cherisher of all and may
 His blessings be bestowed upon Prophet Muhammad and his Companions.
I wasurged to produce this book whichdeals with the rules of
 menstruation and postpartum bleeding. Before embarking on this difficult
 task, I hesitated a lot.
However, I reconsidered the suggestion as | realized that the issue of
 menstruation and postpartum bleeding is shrouded in obscurity and is less
 understood by some women. Undoubtedly, it is an indispensable aspect of
 Figh (Jurisprudence) which raises concerns and questions and is considered
 a bigreferencein Figh.Thus,I reliedontheAlmightyAllahand
 commenced to accomplish the request. May Allah guide me to the Right
 Path.
I called this booklet ‘The Guide’ so that it guides to what has been
 obscured in the issues of menstruation and postpartum bleeding.
I made sure it 1s compact, easy to follow, detailed and comprehensive.
I includedall thecrucial,indispensablemattersof menstruationand
postpartum bleeding. I dispensed with the rare cases so that the book will
not go beyond its major topics.
As for the questions concerning these issues, I was meticulous to
relate to the established Fatwas (Islamic rulings), being cautious to take
authentic rules pertaining to our divine religion. I also did my utmost to
extractFatwas(Islamicrulings)fromthebasicFigh(Jurisprudence)
references which I will include in the bibliography so that interested readers
can refer to them.
Readers will also find - by Allah’s will - general rules. I hope they
will pay attention to them and commit them to memory so that they educate
themselves about this subject.
My hope is that all Muslim women obtain a copy of this book and
read it thoroughly. Moreover, I hope Muslim women especially those who
Vill
travel abroad as they have no one to consult about their religious duties will
apply it.
I acknowledge all the efforts made by those who have helped me in
the course of writing this book and producing it in this elegant way and
professional typing. May Allah reward them for the best.
MayAllah grant us success and bestowon us His guidanceand
mercy.
The Author
1X
Preface
The Verse of Menstruation and the Reason for its Revelation
Allah, the Exalted says in the Qur’an:“Theyask you concerning
 women’s courses. Say: They are a hurt and pollution: so keep away from
 women in their courses, and do not approach them until they are clean. But
 when they have purified themselves, you may approach them as ordained
 for you by Allah for Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He
 loves those who keep themselves pure and clean”. (2: 222)
In pre-Islamic paganism, Jews and Arabs exaggerated in dealing with
 menstruatingwomento the extent that they forbade living, eating, and
 socializing with them during their periods.
Christians, on the other hand, had an opposite stance. Their corrupt
 behavior took them as far as allowing sexual intercourse with women while
 in their menstruation.
Thedifferencein dealing with menstruatingwomenexpressed by
 these parties has arisen concerns from Muslims. To inform Muslims about
 menstruationAllah,the Almighty,revealed the verse:“Theyask you
 concerning women’scourses”: Oh, Muhammad,they ask you about the
 social intercourse with women who have their periods.
- “Say: They are a hurt and a pollution” means menstruation is harmful.
- “so keep away from women in their courses”: refrain from having a
 sexual intercourse with them while in their periods. Prophet Muhammad-
peace be upon him - said: “you are ordered by Allah to only refrain from
having a sexual intercourse with them.”
- “and do not approach them until they are clean” which means do not
have sexual contact with them until their discharge runs clear.
- “Butwhentheyhavepurifiedthemselves”meanswhentheyclean
themselves with pure water.
- “you may approach them as ordained for you by Allah” means you can
have sexual intercourse with them as Allah has ordained it to you, which is
for the purpose of progeny.
- “for Allah loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those
who keep themselves pure and clean” Allah loves those who repent from
bad deeds and those who purify themselves from dirtiness.
The Importance of This Issue
Knowledgeabout menstruation and postpartum bleeding is of great
importance to women from the religious and worldly aspects of their life.
Religious: accurate performance of praying, fasting and pilgrimage, which
are the pillars of Islam and acts of worship, entails understanding the issues
pertaining to menstruation and postpartum bleeding. Furthermore, Islamic
laws on puberty, divorce, ‘idat (a period of waiting during which a widow or
divorcee may not remarry) and sexual intercourse depend largely on the
understanding of menstruation and postpartum bleeding.
Worldly:menstruationindicates thebeginningortheendofthe
reproductive life of women. It is also a sign of pregnancy.
Therefore, Muslim women have to seek knowledge about the Islamic
rulingson menstruationand postpartumbleeding. Theyare obligedto
educate themselves about what is expected of them during these periods, so
that they ensure that their religious duties are governed by Islam’s rulings
and their worldly life is complemented by the knowledge and full awareness
of these crucial issues.
Types of Blood
Women experience three types of blood in their life:
1.Menstruation blood
2.Postpartum blood
3.Prolonged period
Women are supposed to draw a clear distinction between these three types
of blood since each has its own specific rulings.
Type One: Menstruation
Reasoning Behind Menstruation
Prophet Muhammad - may All&ah’s blessings be upon him - said: “AJl&ah
(SWT) prescribed menstruation on Adam’s daughters”.
 Allah (SWT) creates blood secretion in females to enhance the development
 of the fetus in their wombs. “So blessed be Allah, the Best to create”. (23:
14)
If Allah has not predetermined the development of a fetus in the
 womb, that blood secretion becomes harmful excess. The womb gets rid of
 it outside the body; otherwise, women are physically harmed.
 Definition and Characteristics of Menstruation
 Linguistically: menstruation means flowing.
Fromthe Islamic Law(Shari’a) perspective:menstruation is a black,
thick, foul-smelling blood which flows on its own from an adolescent’s
vulva while healthy and has not yet reached menopause. Menstruation lasts
from three to ten days.
- Black, thick, smelly blood:It has a distinguishable bad smell. Prophet
Muhammad- may Allah’s blessings be upon him - said: “menstruation
blood is thick, black and has a bad smell”. He - peace be upon him - said:
“the blood of menstruation is black and is distinguishable”.
- Flows on its own: menstruation blood flows naturally without having to
search for it or forcefully cause it to come out.
4
- Froman adolescent’s vulva: menstruation flows from a girl’s vulva at
the age of puberty or around nine years old (the very beginning of puberty).
- Not in menopause: menopause is about sixty years old. Sheikh Itfish said:
“that (sixty years) is the right estimation”
- In a healthy condition: menstruation flows not of sickness, giving birth or
first sexual intercourse.
- From three to ten days: If blood flows for less than three days, it is not
considered menstruation. What’s more, if it lasts more than ten days, it is a
prolonged period which has its special rulings. Anas bin Malik reports that
our Prophet - peace be upon him - said: “menstruation does not last for less
than three days and more than ten days”.
Caution (1): For a woman to know that she has a menstrual flow, she wipes
with a piece of clothing on her vulva from left to nght while between a
standing and sitting position.
Rulings on Non-Menstrual Bloods
Notall bloodwhichflowsfromwomenor is seenbythem is
consideredto be menstruation.Womenhaveto ensurethat the blood
flowing from them has all the three characteristics mentioned earlier. Any
blood, which lacks one of the characteristics attributed to menstruation, is
known as ‘non-menstrual bloods’. Non-menstrual bloods are divided into
two types; each has its special rulings as illustrated in tables (A) and (B).
Type (1)
Womenshould not refrain from praying or fasting if they have the
following non-menstrual bloods. It goes without saying that these bloods are
not to be considered as menstruation.
Type (A)Type (B)
¢ Bloods that are not regarded as¢ Bloods that are not regarded as
menstruation because they do not flow | menstruation because they do not flow
in the regular time of menstruation.from women’s vulva.
These have their own rulings:(1) Blood seen in the thigh.
(1) Blood seen in childhood.(2) Blood seen in the shirt.
(2) Blood seen in menopause.(3) Blood seen in a place women sit on
(3) Blood seen during pregnancy.for a while.
(4) Blood seen if the interval between | (4) Yellow spots turning into red with
periods 1s less than ten days.time.
(5) Blood seen as a consequence of
sickness or injury.
Table A
Type (2): Non-Menstrual Blood
Non-menstrualbloodsthat are not consideredmenstruationunless
they meet two conditions. These are divided into two types; each has its
own specifications.
Type (A)Type (B)
¢ Bloods that are not regarded as¢ Bloods that are not regarded as
menstruation unless they continue aftermenstruation unless they last more than
the reason they flow for ends:three days. If continuing for three days,
(1) Blood seen in fear.they are to be regarded as menstruation.
(2) Blood seen as a result of carrying(1) Blood seen while taking oral
heavy loads.medication.
(3) Blood seen after riding a bike or(2) Blood seen as a result of the first
animals (donkeys and horses)sexual intercourse (breaking the
(4) Blood seen as a result of jumping.hymen).
(5) Blood seen after normal sexual(3) Blood seen after breaking of the
intercourse (not the first one)hymen and opening the menstruation
outlet on their own.
Table B
Mucous Discharges (Vaginal Secretions)
Thewombmightsecretedischarges or fluidswhichareneither
menstruation nor non-menstrual bloods. These discharges are called mucous
discharges (mucous dirty secretions) that flow during menstruation and in-
between periods.
Definitions: Mucous discharges are divided into five types.
Yellowsecretion(yellowdischarge):a weakenedformof blood(like
plasma) that turns into yellow.
Murky secretion: a discharge between black and white; resembles adirty,
muddy water.
 Scant brown discharge: water which looks like sand in appearance.
Blood clot: a clot of thick, frozen blood.
 Vaginal Dryness: When the discharge runs clear and menstruation finishes,
menstruating women experience dryness.
Rulings pertaining to these discharges: They have two states:
The first state: If a woman experiences the above-mentioned discharges
after or during the menstruation period- from three to ten days- then she
ascribes the rulings of menstruation to them. She does not clean herself until
her discharge runs absolutely clear or she experiences milky discharge (the
white, vaginal discharge, leukorrhea). ‘Aishah - may Allah be pleased with
her - narrated that the Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him- said:
“women do not clean from menstruation until they experience the milky
discharge (the whites)”
The second state: If a woman has these discharges after she cleans, then
she should consider them clean. She does not refrain from praying and
fasting. Um‘tayah said: “We never considered yellowish discharge as a
thing of importance (as menses).
Caution (2): If these mucous discharges flow after the monthly period is
over and the woman’s discharge does not run clear yet, then she has to wait.
The waiting period will be explored in-depth later.
8
Signs of Cleanliness and Purity from Menstrual Flow
Allah, the Almighty, says in the Qur’an: “Keep away from women in
their coursesand do not approach them until they are clean” whichis
interpreted as ‘until they purify themselves’.
 - Signs of Cleanliness:
 TheMilkyDischarge(the Whites):this is a very milkyandwatery
 secretionthata womanconsidersasa signto hercleanlinessfrom
 menstruation provided that it flows from the same place that menstruation
 flows from.
Themilkydischargeisthestrongest,unquestionablesignof
 cleanliness- in our estimation.
 Vaginal Dryness: dryness happens when menstruation completely finishes
 and the place of blood secretion (vulva) becomes pure and clear. If a woman
 places cotton on the vulva, it will not get stained.
This is an indicator of cleanliness for women who normally clean by
 dryness instead of experiencing the milky discharge (the whites). Moreover,
 scholars unanimously agree that it can be taken as a sign for purity and
 cleanliness.Ibn Abbasnarrated that Prophet Muhammad- may Allah’s
 blessings be upon him - said: “Women are obliged to wash and purify when
menstruation ends”
Caution(3): If womenwho normally experience vaginal dryness get the
milky discharge (the whites) at one period, then they should go for it and
purify as the milky discharge is considered as a strong, unquestionable sign
of cleanliness.
Caution(4): Womenshould not cause the milky discharge to flow by
basically searching for it. Moreover, they should not intentionally cause
menstruationto flow so that they can refrain from praying and fasting
meanwhile.Sheikh Itfish - may Allah rest his soul in Heaven -said: “if
menstruation is seen but never flows and a woman searches for it to cause it
to flow, she is entitled to harsh penance”. Moreover, she should not pray
because of a searched milky discharge. If she causes the milky discharge to
come out, she is entitled to a harsh penance as well.
10
Menstruation Time and the Interval Between Periods
 1. Womenare obliged to know the minimum and maximum number of
menstruation days. The minimum number of menstruation days is three and
the maximumis ten days if her discharge does not run clear in between.
Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him - said: “menstruation does not last
for less than three days and more than ten days”.
2. If she experiences blood for less than three days, she should not consider
this as menstruation.If she happensto have refrained from prayingor
fasting during that time, then she has to make up for all the prayers and
fasting she missed. This is because she has come to realize that it is not
menstruation that she thought she had.
3. If blood flows for more than ten days, then that blood is a prolonged
period and not menstruation. Prophet Muhammad- peace be upon him -
said: “menstruation is only ten days, if continued more than ten days, then it
is a prolongedperiod”.In this case,womenhaveto wait as will be
demonstrated.
4. Womenshould keep written records of their periods. Usually, if they
experience fixed timing of bleeding, then that should be considered as their
regular fixed period time in the future.
Caution (5): a day of menstruation is calculated from one hour to another.
For example, from eight o’clock of this morning to eight o’clock tomorrow
morning should be counted as one day.
Sheikh Itfish - may Allah rest his soul in Heaven - said: “I can not
bear ignoring a second of my life without counting it as I know it is part of
my life. The first moment of menstruation is the time when a woman first
bleeds, be it night or morning. From that particular moment to the same next
day is counted as a day. If menstruation comes at night, then that night
together with the night of the second day shall be counted as a day”
Caution (6): If a woman gets used to a regular menstruation time, then she
should remember it and keep a written record of it so that she never forgets
11
 it. This time definitely is an indicator of when to refrain from and resume
praying. It is also a core element for a set of rulings.
The Interval Between Periods (Cleanliness Time)
 1. The interval between periods lasts at worst for ten days and at best up to
sixty days.
2. Womenas they are entitled to knowthe time and durationof their
menstruation period should also care about when and for how long their
interval between bleedings lasts, between the ten and sixty days mentioned
above.
3. Theinterval betweenperiodsmayvary considerably.Forexample,a
woman might pray for twenty days; thus, she considers her interval time
between periods to be twenty.
Sometimes,she prays twenty-twodaysthen menstruationflows.Other
times, she prays eighteen days and then she bleeds. In this case, she can take
all these times as tentative and potential times for her interval between
regular bleedings.
Caution (7): Women might have doubts about the times of their periods and
interval between periods because of a sickness or forgetfulness. Therefore,
they can not remember their exact times. In this case, they should ask one of
their relatives about their period and interval between periods and do like
them- Allah knows best.
12
Waiting Time During the Period and Mucous Discharges .
1. Waiting time is the period that a woman adds to her period days if blood
 continuesto flowor if she experiencesany of the mucousdischarges
 described earlier after her usual period days are over.
 2. Waiting with a flow of pure blood is two days.
 3. Waiting with the mucous discharges is a day and a night (24 hours)
 4. Women with respect to the waiting period are of two types:
 Beginner:is a womanwhobleeds for the first time. If blood continues
 flowing and her discharge does not run clear after ten days are over, she
 waits for two days. Then, she cleans herself and prays. If she experiences
 mucous discharges and these continue after the ten days are over, she has to
 wait for a day and night (24 hours). Then, she purifies and prays.
 Accustomed: is a woman who has already established a regular time as her
periodtime.If bloodcontinuesto flow until after her usual daysare
 complete,she waitsfor twodays and then prays. As for experiencing
mucous discharges after her regular days are over, she waits for a day and
night.
Caution (8): The waiting period starts from the moment the woman's usual
time for menstruation is over. The menstruating womanbegins counting
from that moment to the same moment the following day as one day- be it a
day or night. To illustrate, she counts from a specific hour to the same hour
the next day as she does in the menstruation time.
Caution (9): If a woman is on the waiting period with blood, then, if the
blood stops and she has mucous discharges before the two days of waiting
are over, she continues the whole two days and then cleans and prays.
Caution (10): If a woman is on the waiting period with mucous discharges,
then, if the blood flow resumes before the day and night are over, she has to
wait for two days because it is mandatory to consider blood as stronger
evidence of menstruation than mucous discharges alone.
13
Heavier and Lighter Menstrual Flows
 ]. Heavier menstrual flow happens when the menstruation period becomes
heavier than regular and menstruating women add more days to her regular
period days. The interval between periods becomes shorter.
 2. Lighter menstrual flow happens when menstruation bleedingbecomes
 lighter than regular and menstruating women drop down her usual number
 of menstruation days. The interval between periods is longer.
 3. A woman’s period time is said to become heavier or lighter when her
 menstrual flow bears the same characteristics of menstruation since blood
 and not the mucous discharges decides heavier and lighter menstrual flows.
 4. Heavier menstrual flow is established after three menstruation bleedings
 as it signals fewer prayers and fastings. Lighter menstrual flow, on the other
 hand, is decided after only two period times as it is moreprayersand
 fastings.
 5. Heavier and lighter menstrual flows take place between the minimum and
 maximum number of menstruation days, which are three to ten days.
Howdoes a womanknow that her menstruation is now heavier than
 regular? I will provide the following example:
A woman who normally bleeds for seven days has her period for eight days
one time. After eight days, her discharge runs clear. If this happens to her
two more subsequent times, then as a future reference, she considers her
menstruationdays as eight and not seven and she cancels her previous
calculations.
Howdoesa womanknowthathermenstruationis nowlighter?
Similarly, I will provide the following example:
A woman who normally bleeds for eight days gets the milky discharge after
the six day once. Then, she cleans and prays because the milky discharge is
a strong, unquestionable indicator for cleanliness. If she experiences this for
twoconsecutivetimesin herfutureperiods, thensheconsidersher
menstruation days to be for six days and she cancels the eight days.
14
Irregular and intermittent bleeding
1. Irregular and intermittent bleeding relates to the beginner who bleeds for
the first time.Shehas not yet had a regular time of menstruation and
cleanliness.
2. An irregular and intermittent menstrual bleeding lasts for two days and
irregular postpartum bleeding lasts for three days.
3. Irregular and intermittent bleeding is constrained with the flow of pure
blood and not with discharges.
Example:[ will explain how irregular and intermittent bleedings happen
then illustrate it in the diagram below. If a beginner bleeds for two days and
then her discharge runs clear, then she cleans and prays. Then, if she bleeds
on the sixth day before completing the ten days of cleanliness and she
continues bleeding till the ninth day and on the tenth day her discharge runs
clear for the second time, her period is characterized by irregular spottings.
She adds up the four days she bleeds on to the first two days and establishes
six days as her period days.
1
|Twodays blood7
3
 +Three days cleanliness4
5
|6
7
Four days blood <8
9
;10
Cleanliness
Table C
15
Note: The first two days: are established as period days.
The last four days: are joined to the first two days of period.
Caution (11): A woman does not make up for the prayers of the days that
she has established as her period days (example, the two days demonstrated
above).
Caution (12): Irregular bleeding is rare. If a woman has it, then she should
consult religious scholars.
Relating Menstrual Time to Relatives'
Relating menstrual time to relatives’ refers to a beginner who can not
 determine her period and cleanliness times. She has to relate the times of her
period and cleanliness to a relative of hers like her mother or aunt.
However, what is applied in our case is the rule of Imam A'-Rab?i’ bin
Habib - may Allah be pleased with him - which is “any blood seen after ten
days of praying is menstruation”. Applying this rule does not take effort for
women because of its straightforwardness - Allah knows best.
Explanation of This Rule
If the discharge of a woman runs clear so she cleans and prays, then
she bleeds on the seventh day of the prescribed ten days. She does not
consider this as menstruation and never gives up praying and fasting. She
prays till she completes the ten days. Fifty prayers are the minimum number
of prayers for each interval between periods. If she continues bleeding
afterwards(aftertendaysof praying),shethen considersthis as
menstruation. This follows from the rule: “any blood seen after ten days of
praying 1s menstruation”.
16
Advice for the Beginner
Dear Muslim girl, you are obliged to learn about your religious duties
ofwhichmenstruationandpostpartumbleeding arecrucial parts.
 Knowledge is now accessible and easily sought when compared to the past.
Do not shy away from asking and educating yourself about these
 matters because one has to seek knowledge about his/her religious duties
 and what is entitled to them “Allah is not shy (to tell you) the truth”.
 ‘Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said “the best of women are the
 women of Ansar whose shyness does not hinder them from asking about
 their religious duties”
 A practical way for the beginner: The following steps guide you to what
 you should do if you experience menstruation for the first time (If blood
 with the previous characteristics comes to you, then do the following):
 First: tell your sister, mother, or a relative.
 Second:Refrainfrom praying until you are finished because you are
menstruating and the rulings of menstruation apply to you.
Third: Start counting your period days from the very hour you bleed, be it a
nightor morninghour.For example,if you bleed at nine o’clock this
morning, then at nine o’clock the next day, this will be your first day.
Fourth: Expect the milky discharge anytime between the moment you
bleed till the tenth day of your menstruation.
Fifth: If your discharge runs clear between three and ten days, supposedly
you experience the milky discharge on the seventh day, then you have to
purify and pray. Keep a written record of this time, as it will be your time
when your period is over and praying is obligatory in the future.
Sixth: If you continue bleeding till the tenth day, wait for two days and then
clean and pray.
Seventh:If any of the mucous discharges like yellow secretion or murky
secretion continues with you till the tenth day, then you have to wait for a
day and night (24 hours). After the tenth day, clean yourself and pray.
17
 Caution (13): Establishing a regular and fixed time for the menstruation is
 upon the arrival of the milky discharge at one period since it is a strong,
 unquestionable indicator for cleanliness.
 Caution (14): If you normally clean by vaginal dryness instead of the milky
 discharge, then start anticipating dryness on the fourth day of your period. If
 you encounter a day on which you completely dry up - let us say the eighth
 day - then you have to establish this time as your cleanliness time. If the
 dryness time continues to be fixed with you for three periods in the future,
 then your period days are eight days.
Sheikh Itfish - may Allah rest his soul in Heaven - said: “those who
 experience milky discharge after menstruation ends stick to their times. But
 those who do not experience the milky discharge have to keep record of
 three instances -even if separate- in which they clean by vaginal dryness
 after the same period of time, then they regard it as their time.”
 Caution (15): Can we use menstrual suppressants?
It is unlawful in Islam to use menstrual suppressants like the Pill
 without permission from a doctor or having an extenuating reason (like
 pilgrimage) because stopping the normal menstrual cycle causes harms to
 women’s health.
Asfor those whowantto performhajj (pilgrimage),then it is
permissible for them to use these preventives so that they can do all the
rituals of hajj in their ascribed manners since hajj is timely constrained. Ibn
Omar did not see a reason why women who want to perform hajj should not
use menstrualsuppressants to stop their menstruation.Sa'Id bin Mansir
narrated that Ibn Omar was asked about a woman who purchased medicine
to stop her period so that she could do tawdf, he did not see a problem and
sent her the water of Arak’.
' Type of herbs.
18
Type Two: Postpartum Bleeding
 Q: What is postpartum bleeding?
 A: It is the blood, which flows from women who have recently given birth
 (delivered a child) to either a complete or incomplete (miscarried) child.
 Q: Who is a confined (in childbed) woman?
 A: She is the woman who has recently given birth to a baby.
 Q: When does a pregnant woman refrain from praying and fasting?
 A: A pregnant should not refrain from praying and fasting until part of the
 baby has actually come out in delivery, be it complete or incomplete
 (miscarried). Sheikh Itfish - may Allah rest his soul in Heaven - said: “A
pregnant does not refrain from praying or fasting until part of the baby has
 actually comeout in delivery- even without water or blood. Before this
happens however, she is neither menstruating nor confined so on what basis
does she give up praying and fasting then?
Q: For how long does postpartum bleeding last?
A:Theshortest period of postpartum bleeding lasts for ten days. The
longest is about forty days if the confined woman’s discharge does not run
clear beforethe forty daysare completed. UmSalamah said: “In the
Prophet’s time, we would confine for forty days if our discharge does not
run Clear before that”
Q: How long does the waiting period last for postpartum bleeding?
A: If the confined woman continues to bleed, then she should wait for three
days. However, if she only has mucous discharges, then she waits for a day
and a night similar to the waiting period of menstruation.
Q: How does a confined woman purify herself from her first postpartum
bleeding?
A: She should expect her discharge to run clear from the eleventh day to the
fortieth day. If her discharge runs clear meanwhile, i.e. between these two
times- let us say, she experiences the milky discharge on the thirtieth day,
then she is obliged to clean and pray. She considers the thirty days as her
19
postpartum time in the future. She should keep record of this time and make
a reference to it in the future.
If she completes the forty days and she has not meanwhile seen any
signs of cleanliness, she waits for three days after the forty days are over if
she still bleeds. However, if after the forty days are over, she experiences
mucous discharges, she waits for a day and night.
Q:Howdoesan accustomedconfinedwomanpurifyfrompostpartum
bleeding?
A: An accustomed confined womanis the one who has repeated child
deliveriesin the past andshe hasa regular timefor cleanliness.For
example, her discharge usually runs clear on the thirtieth day, if she also
experiences the milky discharge after thirty days of delivering this time, she
cleans herself and prays. If her discharge does not run clear and she still
bleeds, then she waits for three days and then cleans. If she has mucous
discharges, she waits for a day and night.
Women who have no regular time for cleanliness should stick to forty
days of confinement. If she continues bleeding after the forty days are over,
she should wait for three days and then clean herself and pray. If she has the
mucous discharges, she should wait for a day and night.
Caution (16) If a confined woman has her discharge run clear before she
completes the forty days, she considers this time as her time of cleanliness
from postpartum in the future.
Q: If a woman miscarries, how long will she confine?
A: The postpartum period depends on what the miscarried portion is. If she
givesbirthto a completechild,thensheconfinesforfortydaysas
demonstrated above.
However, if she miscarries and gives birth to an incomplete child, then her
postpartum period differs as shown in the table below.
20
Types of miscarriage | Period of pregnancy | Postpartum periods
- Tiny (tadpole)40 days.4 days.
-Blood clotFrom 41 to 80 days.| 7 days.
- EmbryoFrom 81 to 120 days. | 14 days.
- Bone without fleshFrom 121 and on...21 days.
- Complete baby40 days.
Table D
Caution (17) The waiting period after each of the above cases lasts for three
days if bleeding continues and for a day and night with mucous discharges.
Q: Ifa pregnant woman bleeds, what should she do?
A: If she is confident she is pregnant and she unexpectedly bleeds, she
should ignore this blood and pray. Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him
- said: “menstruation and pregnancy do not coincide”. Sheikh Itfish said:
“the truth is what is articulated by A'rabi’ —may Allah be pleased with him-
who says: “If a woman conceives, then she should not refrain from praying
and fasting even if she bleeds”
Caution (18) If a woman bleeds and refrains from praying and fasting, then
she realizes she is pregnant, she has to make up for the days she did not fast
or pray on. This is due to the fact that pregnancy and menstruation do not
coincide.
Caution(19) If a woman thought she was pregnant but then she started
bleeding and she went on praying and fasting, then she came to realize that
she was actually menstruating and was not pregnant, she should make up for
the days she fasted on thinking it was not menstruation she had.
21
Prohibitions on Menstruation and Postpartum Bleeding
 Menstruating and confined women are prohibited from doing the following:
 - Sexualintercourse:TheQur’an,Sunnah(Prophet’steachings)and
 unanimousagreementof Muslimscholarsconsentto forbiddingsexual
 intercourse with menstruating and confined women.Allah, the Almighty,
 says in the Qur’an “They ask you concerning women’s courses. Say: They
 are a hurt and pollution: so keep away from women in their courses, and do
 not approachthemuntil theyare clean.Butwhentheyhavepurified
 themselves, you may approach them as ordained for you by Allah for Allah
 loves those who turn to Him constantly and He loves those whokeep
 themselves pure and clean”. (2: 222)
Abu-Hurayrah - may Allah be pleased with him - reports that Prophet
 Muhammad- peace be upon him - said: “He who has sexual intercourse
 with a menstruating woman, or in a woman's rear or consults a fortune-teller
 has denied what is been revealed to Muhammad” peace be upon him. With
respectto this matter,a unanimousagreementis reachedthatsexual
intercourse with menstruating women is forbidden.
If a man intentionally has sex with a menstruating woman, then he has
committed a great sin. He should sincerely repent and do penance by paying
one dinar if the woman whom he has sex with is still bleeding and half a
dinar if she has her mucous discharges. It is worth mentioning that dinar is
taken as the equivalent of 4 grams and 250 mg of gold.
Ibn Abas narrated that the Prophet - peace be upon him - said: “If it 1s
red blood, then a dinar should be paid, if it is yellow blood, then half a dinar
should be paid”.
Mu7’ad bin Jabal asked the Prophet: "Oh, Prophet, how should I act
toward my menstruating wife?" The Prophet - peace be upon him - said:
“what is over the wrapper (lower undergarment) is allowed but abstinence is
better”.
Islamforbidshavingsexwithmenstruatingwomenbecausethis
causes physical harm to men, women and children as well. Doctors have
22
extensivelypinpointedtheharmandillnessthat mightresultfrom
intercourse with menstruating women. Blood is the best environment for the
growth of microbes and germs.
-Prayerandfasting: Menstruating and confined womenare obligedto
 refrain from praying and fasting. They are, however, ordered to make up for
 the days of fasting. As for praying, they are not obliged to make up for the
 missed prayers so as not to burden them, as 'Aishah - may Allah be pleased
 with her - said: “in the Prophet’s time, we would menstruate and make up
 for fasting but not praying”
 Caution (20) If a woman bleeds after the time of a certain prayer has started
 (Maghrib prayer, for instance), she has to make that prayer up as it is her
 own responsibility.
 - Walking around the Ka’ba (Tawaf): Menstruating and confined women
 are forbidden to perform tawaf until they are ritually purified at the end of
their periods because tawaf is considered as a form of praying. Praying is
restricted to cleanliness. Abdullah bin Ab4s narrated that the Prophet - peace
be upon him - said: “When menstruating and confined women come to the
appointed place for assuming Ihram (Miqat of Hajj), they wash and assume
Ihram, then they participate in all the rituals of pilgrimage except walking
around the Ka’ba”
-Enteringmosquesandseclusionforworship:Menstruatingand
confined woman should not enter mosques; neither do they enter Al-Haram
Mosquein Makkahnor the Prophet’s mosque in Al-Madina. UmAtiyah
said: “The Prophet - peace be upon him - had ordered women to detach
themselves from the Muslims’ place of praying”.
Seclusion must be accompanied by fasting. It takes place in a mosque.
Given the fact that menstruating womenare not permitted to fast nor to
enter mosques,they, thus, refrain from seclusion for worship while they
have their periods.
- Reciting or touching the Qur’an: Allah, the Exalted, says: “which (the
Qur’an) none shall touch but those who are clean”.
23
Jabir bin Zayed said: “Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him — said of
those in post-sex ritual impurity, women in their periods and anyone who 1s
lacking in ritual purity: “They shall not touch the Qur’an or recite it without
being purified”.
Studentsandteachersareexcludedfromthisrulingbecause
menstruating women are forbidden to recite the Qur’an as a form of worship
in thefirst place.However,if theyfearforgettingtheQur’anwhile
menstruating, then there is no harm in their reciting the Qur’an.Sheikh
‘Amer Al-Shammakhi in his ‘elucidation book’ said: “menstruating women
can perform Dikr (invocation of Allah) and recite the Qur’an”.” No one is
prohibited from invoking the Almighty AlJ&h.
- Getting divorced: Getting divorced while in the menstruation period is
called heresy divorce. It is forbidden in the Sunnah (Prophet’s teachings).
Divorce takes place during the period of purity in which the couple have not
had sexual intercourse.
- Applying cupping or cutting anything off her body (e.g. finger nails):
 Menstruating and confined women are banned from applying cupping due
 to their physically weak state, and from cutting their hair and nails because
 they could not possibly purify these clippings afterwards.
 - Combing hair, putting Kohl and henna and using Sewak (a wooden
 brush): As known, these deeds beautify women and entice their husbands
to make love with them. Sexual intercourse is forbidden and hence it is
advisable for women to refrain from these actions until their periods are
Over.
2 The formal legal opinion (fatwa) mostly in use does not sanction recitation of the Qur’an
for women in their periods, based on the afore-mentioned Prophet’s saying. However if
they get terrified, they are permitted to recite from the Qur’an as much as they may need to
relieve their terror. See ‘Fatawa’ by His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamed AI Khalili,
2003 - Al Ajyaal, Oman, 3TM edition, book 1, pg 21-23.
24
 Combing hair should be excluded from this list, as it is an essential part of
 cleanliness that has to be done on a regular basis. ?
3 The formal legal opinion mostly in use excludes also brushing the teeth from this ban for
the sake of hygiene as well as clipping the fingernails and shaving the body hair if need be.
25
Purification from Menstruation and Postpartum Bleeding
Allah says: “and do not approach them until they are clean. But
 when they have purified themselves, ye may approach them as ordained for
 you by Allah”.ProphetMuhammad- peacebe uponhim- said:“If
 menstruation ends, purification is obligatory”.
 Timeof purification:If the dischargeof a womanrunsclearfrom
 menstruationand postpartumbleeding (either she experiencesthe milky
 discharge or vaginal dryness if she normally cleans by it), she has to purify
 herself before the time for the prayer ends.
 Example: If her discharge runs clear at 12 noon, she has to purify herself
 before Duhr prayer ends.
 Manner of purification: Purification from menstruation and postpartum
 bleeding is similar to purification done after sexual intercourse. However,
 someextra stepsare requiredfor the purificationof menstruationand
 postpartum bleeding:
 First: Wash hands.
 Second: Wash away traces of blood from vulva.
 Third:Havethe intention (not necessaryby sayingout loud)that this
purification is done for menstruation and postpartum bleeding.
Fourth: Rinse water out of both mouth and nose.|
Fifth: Wash hair with water and soap (shampoo, in other words), comb hair
and rinse it thoroughly. Then, gather the hair lost, wash it and conceal it, as
it 1s a private part. The ruling goes that what you conceal while you still
have (your hair as you cover it by scarf) should also be hidden from seeing
when it separates and gets lost because of washing.
Sixth: Wash the whole body and rub it doing the right parts first and
moving to the left sides.
Seventh: Do ablution (wudi, more accurately)
'Aishah - may Allzh be pleased with her - narrated that Asma’ bint Yazid
asked the Prophet - peace be upon him - about washing out menstruation, he
said:
26
 - Take your water and nabgq (look at the glossary at the end of the book).
 - Wash nicely.|
 - Pour water on the head and rub thoroughly till water reaches the scalp.
 - Pour water over the whole body.
- Take a piece of cloth drenched in musk and clean with it.
- Asma’ enquired: how does she clean with the piece of musk cloth?
- The Prophet responded: Glory to God! Clean with it.
- 'Aishah clarified: wipe along the traces of blood (to get rid of the bad
smell).
Caution (21) Ibn Abas - may Allah be pleased with him - said: “if a woman
purifies after Asr prayer, she prays both Duhr and Asr prayers. If she
purifies after Isha, she prays Maghrib and Isha”.
Caution (22) If a woman bleeds twice a month, then she is exempted from
undoing her hair in every purification process (she does not have to untie it).
She undoes it once and leaves it tied later exactly as done to purification
from sexual intercourse.
Caution(23) If a woman has to wash from sexual intercourse and she
bleeds meanwhile (before purification happens), then she should intend to
wash from both sexual intercourse and menstruation when she purifies after
menstrual bleeding stops. Only one purification for both suffices.
Caution (24) If a woman can not wash to purify from sexual intercourse,
menstruation and postpartum bleeding, she can alternatively purify herself
by with clean earth or sand. If she can not wash her hair, she should first
wipe her face and hands with clean earth to substitute for washing the hair
and then wash up the rest of her body.
27
Type Three: Prolonged Period
The blood flowing because of a prolonged period is red, thin and has
 no smell. Therefore,it differs from the menstruationblood.Thewomb
 secrets this blood because of illness (a hemorrhage). Prophet Muhammad-
 may Allah’s blessings be upon him - said: “the blood of a prolonged period
 is a vein blood and not menstruation”. He - peace be upon him - also said:
 “blood of a prolonged period is impure because it is a vein blood; it nullifies
 ablution (wudi) (renders it void).”
A woman who has a prolonged period is the one who continues to
 bleed in a time which Is not her regular menstruation time.
Prolonged period might happento four typesof women—mostly:
 beginner, accustomed, pregnant and a woman in her menopause.
- Beginner: is a woman who in her first menstruation continues to
 bleed after the tenth day. She should wait for two days after the tenth day.
 Then, she purifies herself even if blood continues to flow. She prays for ten
 consecutive days (fifty prayers). If she continues bleeding afterwards, she
 shall consider herself menstruating based on ImamA’rabi’bin Habib’s-
 may Allah rest his soul in peace- rule “Any blood seen after praying for ten
 days is menstruation”. Such women are stricken by the prolonged period.
Thus, they refrain from praying for twelve days and pray for ten days till
Allah the Almighty relieves them of their suffering.
- Accustomed:is a womanwhocontinuesbleedingafterherusual
menstruation time is over. She should wait for two days then she purifies
and prays till the ten days are over. Afterwards,she considersherself
menstruating and refrains from praying during her menstruation period with
the waiting time (two days). Then, as this is over, she prays for ten days and
so on.
- Pregnant: is a woman who bleeds after she conceives. She should not
refrain from praying and fasting till she delivers.
28
- Woman in her menopause: is a woman who bleeds after she reaches 60
years of age. As has been established, this woman should not refrain from
praying and fasting.
Purification from the prolonged period
Awomanwhohasa prolongedperiodis obligedto dotwo
purifications: obligatory and desirable purification.
Obligatory purification: is the purification, by which the woman gets
cleaned from menstruation and bound to resume praying. It comprises the
same steps of purification from menstruation.
Desirable purification: is the purification done before each prayer —
during her cleanliness time. Prophet Muhammad-peace be upon him- said to
the Ansari woman —Asma’ bint Yazid- when she asked him: Oh Prophet, I
bleed extensively. The Prophet said: “Purify, cram cotton there and pray”.
Women with prolonged period can postpone Duhr prayer and move
Asr prayer forward, so they can pray them together with one purification.
They do the same for Maghrib and Ishaa prayers. It is narrated that Sahla
bint Suhail had a prolonged period, she then came to the Prophet. He
ordered her to purify for each prayer. This has burdened her, so the Prophet
asked her to combine Duhr and Asr with one purification and Maghrib and
Ishaa with one purification and to purify for Fajr prayer separately.
If a woman who has a prolonged period gets sufficed with ablution
instead of washing her entire body before each prayer, then this is fine as the
Prophet- peace be upon him- said: “a womanwith prolonged period
performs ablution for each prayer”. Imam Jabir bin Zayed - may Allah rest
his soul in peace - said: “She can pray with that ablution as much as she
wants whether obligatory or Nawdfil (supererogatory or extra prayers) as
long as she is still in her praying spot.
29
Advice for Women with a Prolonged Period
The blood of a prolonged period is a hemorrhage. Womenwho are
stricken by prolongedperiodsshouldseek treatmentespeciallyin our
present time when medications and treatments are available- All praise is
due to Allah.
Crucial Rules to Remember
(1) The womb secretes three types of blood:
¢ Menstruation: a normal flow of blood that flows from a physically
healthy woman.
¢ Postpartum Bleeding: blood flowing after child delivery.
¢ Prolonged period: blood secreting as a result of illness.
(2) Age of menstruation: puberty age or around nine years old.
(3) Menopause: 60 years of age.
(4) Mucous discharges: have the same rules as what comes before
them.
(5) Basic cleanliness sign: the milky discharge (the whites).
(6) A woman who does not experience a milky discharge is cleaned
by vaginal dryness.
(7) A woman establishes her time of menstruation and postpartum
bleeding if experiencing the milky discharge at one period.
(8) A woman establishes her time of menstruation and postpartum if
cleaning by vaginal dryness after three periods.
(9) The milky discharge (the whites) is a strong, unquestionable
evidence for cleanliness.
(10) A womanshould not look for menstruationflow or clear
dischargeherself.Thesearenaturalcycles that flowwithout
searching.
(11) A day of menstruation and postpartum is 24 hours, 1.e. from a
definite hour of menstrual flow on a day to the same hour the next
day.
30
(12) A woman establishes a regular time for her menstruation.
(13) A woman can take several times for her cleanliness time.
(14) Pregnancy and menstruation do not coincide.
(15)Anybloodseen after prayingfor ten daysis considered
menstruation.
(16) Menstruating and confined women refrain from praying and
fasting until they have finished. They only make up for fasting.
(17)Awomanshouldnotdelaywashingafter herdischarge
becomes clear.
(18) A man should not have sexual intercourse with his wife until
she purifies herself. Clear discharge from menstruation alone does
not suffice. Purification with water 1s essential.
(19) Whatever a menstruating woman is prohibited from doing; a
confined woman 1s also prohibited from doing.
(20) Purification from both menstruation and postpartum bleeding
has the same procedure.
(21) Issues pertaining to blood have five dimensions:
A. Times.
B.Waitingperiod—sharedbybothbeginnersandthe
accustomed.
C. Relating menstrual time to relatives’.
D. Heavierandlighter menstrualflows: only pertains to the
accustomed.
E. Irregular bleedings: pertains to beginners.
(22) Heavier menstrual flow in both menstruation and postpartum
bleeding is established after three times and lighter menstrual flow is
established after two times.
3]
Table of times
TimesLeastMost
 Menstruation3 days10 days
 Postpartum Bleeding | 10 days40 days
 Cleanliness10 days60 days
Table E
Table of waiting periods
Waiting in the menstruationWith blood for two days
With mucous discharges for a day
and night
Waiting in the postpartumWith blood for three days
bleedingWith mucous discharges for a day
and night
Table F
32
Conclusion
By Allah’s Grace and His will, this book is complete. I ask Allah to
benefit Muslims from it and make this deed exclusively for His sake. If I
produce the right, then Allah has blessed me, however, if a flaw is found,
then it is because of me and the Devil. I seek forgiveness of Allah.
I would appreciate comments and extend thanks 1n advance.
Last but not least, All praise is due to Allah with whose guidance good
deeds are accomplished.
The Author
33
TUITeS
‘snosewulegyes- SV peumueynyy
 CSI9Cl€‘SSO [BIDUDD -€96]“SV .Wef-[V yeysUrq YeTINpgyv
UeUIC ‘ade}IO}]yejos-nqyv
 SECCCCv[JO ANSIUIP — [86]que LTV wAtyseyH = RWIO UIq peureyNy
‘uoueqa’yIU}Vy-]e ug
 OfIe8Cc“OSNOH] ISPIIOH -€86]INS-TV fue = peurueyny,] yereqny|
\dk3qqiaery
 OvBeCZ“SSa1q SNOIADIg -676|qigesvy twee -[Vuig .Iqel,.y Weul | youung
34
‘uouRqay]
UONEZITEADYuolje}a1d19}U]Tyserey|
8SpS!I€SSP IOH -p/6]S Tyderiey\-ye-[2 Byeysnpy pouny(asfoy)
UBUIC ‘ode}LIOYs] |uo)
ChE6£EIZjo ANSI-986]IISfe},VY IISAe].jnsnx peurmeynyyy | adduajuy
oded |aseguoyvonqnd
 OL | Woly | sUIN[OA | UORIp|jo aauld pus ajegyoog1OqINYandor
S9IUI1IIJ9Y
uouega’]ysgni
OLEOLIIC“YWI@4-TV Jed -cL6luoHeoIdI9U] SINjnsnx Ulq pewuueyny|
Ture T-[V
 IpIZIZBLas[V -L961Se -TVwiyeiq] ulg zizejnpqyv
eAqry]TH yeunUeyS
€9TSLIICZ‘esnoy eMeqd-[V -TL61uonepronyy“TV WV ulg Joury
BLIOS[Veye
817902II“SSoid UBIQeIV -LL61sony S.meysE ==[V BSOJY UI [I BUST
UCBUIC ‘ose}LIOLIPUTY-[V35
 L6€6€IJo ANSIUIY -€861uoreorfIsse[) oyLBSOY] Ul YETINPGV
uourges’]ungleqyyHezeyl
 $668I‘asnoH Weq-[V -pL6l = -Uq] JO SJaMsue aL“TV qnb.ex nqy
ydA3qIMeuUel-[Y Tey
 6L09I‘ssag YRpeley-[V OyUPEA-TVTV Iqv uig eAyex |ydty
‘uouerqa’]
 687IC‘asnoH] 400g -€L61ybry yeuungbeqes pikes sy
adud |aseguonvotqnd
 OL | Woig | sunjoA | uonIpyjo oou|d pue a}eqyoogAOWNYaidoy
BISIUN] “eedueulO
 LvSZIyeweyes-ng -1861wI[snyl Jo ybryJewer-ly wiyerq]
BIIO3[V
 €Z9WII‘Ssolg uBIqeTY -0L61Yyewebns]-[y weyngueypbex-nqy wiryeiq]
}dA3q$}09S MO}wizer
 Lt7l = «IZI¢‘9SNOH YOO -0S6] = 94}. 0} Butpro0ooe Ybry“TV ueuryerinpqy
BLIOS[V
 98bl‘sSolg UeIqeIY -996]yeumuypurey|iInjeg ulq wryesq]
BLos[V36
Or82‘SSaIg UBIQRIV -996]WeMY-[V bereTEUIQ Ug YeILg
UeUIC ‘ode}UOH
 69OVIIJOANSIUNA, -€L61Ulueyy-ynpbi,-Ty= ruyeg-sy yerinpqy
UeUIC ‘ade}LIDH
OvzClIIJo ANSIUIP] -€86Tjeury -Ty sue.WlTUT -sy YeIINpqy
ydABq ‘ssoigSIOUIW pure soIseqysiyyy
OStSEZIISnolAald “H 8pelsAtsuayaidwioo ay, «= Jnsn4X ulq peuruetny
aded |aseguonvsiyqnd
 OL | Wo1g | sUIN[OA | BONIpY |Jo sould pus ajeqyoog1oqjnyado]
BLios[Ysouepinyy
 ZSbbwigI‘SSdlq UBIqeIY -C86]pue ybiy-Tvqeysi {leqjeg37
BIpnesTeq-[V
vTW EGTV “p86 = SQWOM jo apAD sy =HTW peumueynyy “Iq
liezelTy ‘ssolg
C8 IIuviqely -€861-C86lsemjey S Uyeg-1VHyeq uguryernpqy
yelremeuny|
“TV YeulpeW-[VUSO AAUIWSYIO
I‘AUSIOAIUL) SUL S861Ul spoo[g [eImeN“TV peumueynyy
ased | odeguonvalqnd
OL | Woig | swnjo, | uonIpyjo aoujd pus ajegyoogs,JOWNYdidoy,
Appendix of Cautions
| CautionTopic| Pg|
1What does a woman do to determine if she has,5
_ menstruation?.
2What are the rulings of mucous discharges after the.8
. days of menstruation are over?
3If a woman who normally cleans by dryness gets the9
_whites, ...
4Is causing menstruation and milky discharge to flow9
lawful?:
5' How 1s a day of menstruation calculated?11
6‘Shoulda womanrememberhertimeof 11
-menstruation?|
7What should a woman who has doubts about her12
times do?:
8“When does the waiting period begin and how is it - 13
» calculated?
9- If a woman is on the waiting period and she still13
bleeds, what should she do if experiencing mucous
discharges?
10If a woman is on the waiting period and she has 13
mucous discharges, what should she do if she
- bleeds?
11.~—_- Should a woman make up for the prayers of the days16
‘ she has established as her period time?
12+#Rulingspertainingtoirregularintermittent16
bleedings.:
13How is time calculated with the milky discharge?_18
14.— Howdoes a womanwhodoesn’t experience the18
. milky discharge clean?
15Is using menstrual suppressants lawful?18
16-: Ifadischarge of a confined woman runs clear before20
_ the forty days are over, what should she do?
38
17Waiting during the postpartum bleeding resulting21
_ from miscarriage
18|= How does a woman react if she bleeds and then21
realizes she is pregnant?
19| Howdoesa womanreactif she thinks she is’ 21
_pregnant but realizes she is menstruating?:
20 — lf a woman bleeds after the time of any prayer has23
“ come, what should she do?
21 _;If a woman purifies after ‘Asr or ‘Ishaa prayers, 27
- what should she do?;
22-Should a woman who bleeds twice a month untie her27
* hair when washing?:
23What should a woman do if she bleeds after sexual27
_ intercourse?;
24What does a woman do if she can’t wash her hair?27
Appendix of Tables
|Tables.TopicsPel
Table(A) ofnon-menstrual
‘Type onebloods=st~«S
Table (B): Type two of non-menstrual bloods°7
Table (C): Irregular and intermittent bleedings15
Table (D)< Postpartum bleeding resulting from miscarriage21
Table (E)Times32
Table (F)Waiting. 32
39
Glossary
l.Abu Da’iid: one of the compilers of hadith, the traditions of
 the Prophet (PBUH).
2.Ansar:the companionsof the Prophet (PBUH)fromthe
 inhabitants of Al- Madina who embraced Islam, supportedit and
 who received and entertained the Muslim emigrants from Makkah
 and other places.
 3.Dinar: an ancient gold coin.
4.Figh: Islamic jurisprudence.
 5.Ghus!: a bath with running water.
6.Hadith: the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad(PBUH),
 often referred to as “ The Traditions”
7.‘iddah: Allah’s prescribed waiting period for a woman after
 divorce or death of her husband, after the expiry of which she can
 remarry another person (see the Qur’4n, Surat 65)
8.Izar: A sheet worn below the waist to cover the lower half of
 the body.
9.Kohl: antimony eye powder.
 10.Mahram:a man whom a woman can never marry because
 of close relationship (e.g. a brother, a father, an uncle); or her own
 husband.
 11.Miqat: one of the several places specified by the Prophet
 (PBUH) for the people to assume Ihram at, on their way to Makkah,
 when intending to perform pilgrimage.
 12.Mustahadah:a woman who has bleeding from the womb
 between her normal periods.
 13.Nabg: a tree over 7" heaven near Paradise (the late tree of
 utmost boundary).
 14.Shar?’ah:literally, “the way”;the code of life of Islam,
 based on the Qur’an and the Prophet’s Sunnah.
40
15.Sunnah: the practice of the Prophet consisting of what he
himself did, recommended or approved in others.
16.Tawaf:circumambulation or encircling the Kabbahwhile
praising and supplicating God, one of the essential rites of Hajj and
Umrah.
17.Wudia’: ablution, which is washing the fact and hands up to
the elbows, wiping the hands and ears with wet fingers and washing
the feet up to the ankles for the purpose of offering prayers or doing
circumambulation around the kabbah.
18.| Wrapper:theequivalentfor thisin Englishwouldbe
loincloth or waistcloth. Modern perspective would of course call this
underwear or panties or undergarment.
4]
About the Translator
KhalsaHamedAl- Aghbariworksas a lecturer in the Departmentof
English, College of Arts and Social Sciences at Sultan Qaboos University.
She has a Master’s degree in Theoretical Linguistics from the University of
Victoria, Canada. Her Bachelor’s is the English Language from the College
of Education, Sultan Qaboos University.She is interested in Translation
Studies, Linguistics and Languages in general.
42
(YeV1e): V Elny/ aly
a-aot Lagiabees pt
anpress@omantel.nelom.YEOW Ns : oy yaals