In
Arabic, the word for menstruation (haizh) literally means “running.” Here it
refers to the discharge of blood during a woman’s state of health, not from
giving birth or breaking the hymen.
Most
scholars say that its time begins at the age of nine. If blood is seen before
that age, it is not menstrual blood, but is considered to be putrid blood. As
there is no evidence about when a woman stops menstruating, if an elderly lady
finds blood flowing it is considered menstrual blood.
Requirements
for blood to be considered menstrual
1. Dark Once, when Fatimah bint Abu Habash had a prolonged flow of blood, the
Prophet told her, “If it is the blood of menstruation, it will be dark and
recognizable. If it is that, then leave the prayer. If it is other than that,
then make ablution and pray, for it is only due to a vein.” This is related by
Abu Dawud, an-Nasa’i, Ibn Hibban and ad-Daraqutni, who said all of its
narrators are trustworthy. Al-Hakim also related it, and said that it meets
Muslim’s standards.
2. Red: It is the original color of blood.
3. Yellow: It is a liquid, like pus.
4. A muddy color: It is an intermediate color between black and white, like dirt.
Malik
and Muhammad al-Hassan (and al-Bukhari in mu’allaq form) recorded that women
would send ‘Aishah small boxes with yellow-stained cotton, and she would tell
them, “Do not be in haste until you see the pure white cotton.” If the
discharge is yellow or muddy during the days of menstruation, it is to be
considered as part of the menses. During other days, it is not regarded as
such. Umm ‘Atiyyah said, “After we were pure, we did not consider the yellow or
muddy discharge to be anything.” This is related by Abu Dawud and al-Bukhari,
but without the words “...after we were pure...”
There
is no stated minimum or maximum length of time for the menses
All
statements dealing with this topic have no sound backing. If a woman has a
customary length of time for her menses, she should according to it. Umm Salamah
asked the Prophet about a woman with a prolonged flow of blood. He said, “She
should look for the number of days and nights that she usually has her menses
and the time of the month during which it occurs. Then she should leave the
prayer (during those days, and then afterwards) perform ghusl, tie something
around her vagina and pray.” (Related by “the five,’’ except for at-Tirmizhi.)
If she has no customary period to go by, then she can try to distinguish
between the different types of blood. This practice is based on the previously
quoted hadith of Fatimah bint Abu Hubaish, which states that menstrual blood is
distinguishable and well-known to women.
All
scholars agree that there is no minimum or maximum time limit between two
menstrual periods. Some say that the latter period is fifteen days, while
others say it is three days.
Post-Childbirth
bleeding
Such
bleeding occurs after the birth of a child, regardless if the child survived
the birth or not. This type of bleeding has no minimum duration, for it could
stop right after the birth, or there could even be no blood. Therefore, her
confinement would end and she would be obliged to fast, pray, and so on. The
maximum duration is forty days. Said Umm Salamah, “During the lifetime of the
Prophet, the post childbirth woman would be in confinement for forty days.”
(Related by “the five,” except for an-Nasa’i.)
After
recording the hadith, at-Tirmizhi states, “The knowledgeable companions, the
following generation and those that came later agree that a woman experiencing
post-childbirth bleeding had to stop praying for forty days unless her blood
stopped. If her bleeding stops before that time, she is to make ghusl and start
praying. If she sees blood after forty days, most scholars say that she is not
to stop praying.”
Forbidden
Acts for Women Experiencing Menstruation and Post-Childbirth Bleeding
All
acts forbidden for a person who has not yet cleansed himself from sex or a wet
dream are prohibited to women in these two conditions, as these are considered
major impurities. But, there are also two further prohibitions:
A:
They cannot fast, menstruating women
If
women fast, their fasting will be considered null and void. If they fast during
the month of Ramadan, they will still have to make those days of fasting up
later on. Mu’azhah said, “I asked ‘Aishah, ‘why must we make up the fasts
missed due to our menstruation, and not the prayers?’ She said, ‘That was what
the Messenger of Allah told us to do. We were ordered to make up the fasts, and
we were ordered not to make up the prayers.” (Related by “the group.”)
B:
She can not engage in sexual intercourse
Said
Anas, “When a Jewish woman was menstruating, her husband would not eat or sleep
with her. The companions asked the Prophet, upon whom be peace, about that, and
Allah revealed: “They question you concerning menstruation. Say: ‘It is an
illness, so let women alone at such times and go not in unto them until they
are cleaned. And when they have purified themselves, then go in unto them as
Allah has enjoined upon you. Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him and
loves those who have a care for cleanliness” (al-Baqarah 222). The Messenger of
Allah also said, “Do everything except intercourse.” (Related by “the group,”
except for al-Bukhari.)
In
his comments on the subject, an-Nawawi states, “If a Muslim believes it is
permissible to have intercourse with his menstruating wife, he becomes an
unbelieving apostate.
If he does it, not thinking that it is
permissible, but out of forgetfulness or not knowing that it is forbidden or
not knowing that his wife was menstruating, then there is no sin or expiation
upon him. If he does it on purpose, knowing that it is forbidden, he has
committed a grave sin and must repent.
There
are two opinions on this: the more correct one is that there is to be
expiation.” He further says, “All scholars say that one may touch anything
above the navel or below the knees. Most scholars say that it is permissible to
touch what is between the navel and the knees, but not the vagina or anus.”
An-Nawawi concludes that it is permitted but hated, as that is the strongest
position from the evidence.
This
evidence is based upon the practice of the Prophet’s wives: when he wished to
be with them during their period, they would put something over their vagina.
(Related by Abu Dawud.) Al-Hafez observes, “Its chain is strong.” Masruq ibn
al-Ajda’ asked ‘Aishah, “What is off limits to me sexually during my wife’s
menstruation?” She said, “Nothing, except the vagina.” (Related by alBukhari in
his Tarikh.)
To
be continued
