Haiz and Istehaza
Important Islamic Rulings
Hazrat Umme Salma (RA) reported that during the time of the Prophet ﷺ, a woman experienced continuous bleeding that would not stop. Hazrat Umme Salma (RA) asked the Prophet ﷺ about her condition, whether she should leave prayer completely.
The Prophet ﷺ instructed her to observe her previous regular menstrual habit. She should consider the number of days she used to have her monthly period and regard only those days as menstruation. After those days pass, she should perform ghusl and resume prayer. Any bleeding after that period will not be considered menstruation. She should use a cloth pad and continue praying.
Reference: Mishkat, Abu Dawood, Malik, Darimi
Explanation
In matters of Shari’ah, feeling shy should not prevent learning religious rulings. Hazrat Aisha (RA) said that the women of the Ansar were excellent because shyness did not stop them from seeking knowledge. Modesty should not prevent understanding of Deen.
Minimum and Maximum Duration of Menstruation
The minimum duration of menstruation is three days and three nights, and the maximum is ten days and ten nights.
If bleeding is less than three days, it is not considered menstruation. If it exceeds ten days, only the days according to the woman’s usual habit will be considered menstruation, and the rest will be regarded as istihaadah (irregular bleeding).
When Bleeding Exceeds the Limit
If a woman experiences continuous bleeding, she should refer to her previous habitual duration. Only that number of days will be considered menstruation, and the remaining days will be istihaadah.
For example, if her normal cycle was seven days, then only seven days will be counted as menstruation, even if bleeding continues for fifteen days. The remaining days will be istihaadah, and missed prayers must be made up.
If it is the first time and bleeding exceeds ten days, then only ten days will be considered menstruation, and the rest will be istihaadah.
Rulings of Istihaadah
Bleeding that is less than three days, more than ten days, occurs during pregnancy, or before the age of nine is called istihaadah.
A woman experiencing istihaadah must perform prayer and fasting. She should perform wudu for each prayer, even if bleeding continues.
Rules During Menstruation
During menstruation, prayer and fasting are not allowed. Missed fasts must be made up later, but missed prayers are not required to be made up.
After menstruation ends, ghusl becomes obligatory. Any bleeding after that is considered istihaadah.
All colors of menstrual blood such as red, yellow, brown, green, or black are considered menstruation within the valid period, until clear white discharge appears.
Prayer and Menstruation Rules
If menstruation begins during prayer, the prayer becomes invalid, and it does not need to be repeated later.
If menstruation starts at the end of prayer time, the prayer is also not required to be made up.
If menstruation starts during a voluntary (nafl) prayer, that prayer must be made up.
If menstruation starts during a fasting day, the fast becomes invalid and must be made up later.
Gap Between Two Menstrual Cycles
The minimum duration of purity between two menstrual cycles is fifteen days, and there is no maximum limit.
If bleeding stops, the woman is considered pure, even if months pass without any bleeding.
These rulings are important for women to understand so that they can correctly perform their acts of worship according to Islamic teachings.
The body and saliva of a menstruating woman are pure. Hazrat Ayesha Raziyallahu Anha narrated that during menstruation I would drink water from a vessel and give it to Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihivasallam, and he would drink from the same place on the vessel where my mouth had touched. Similarly, I would take a meat bone in my mouth and remove the meat with my teeth and give it to Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihivasallam, and he would put his mouth on the same place where I had put my mouth.
*Reciting Quran and praying near a menstruating woman.* Hazrat Ayesha Raziyallahu Anha also narrated that during my menstruation, Janabe Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihivasallam would place a pillow in my lap and recline or sit and would recite the Noble Quran in this state. Mishkaat 56, Bukhari and Muslim. Ummul Momineen Hazrat Maimuna Raziyallahu Anha narrated that during my menstruation, Janabe Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihivasallam would pray in such a state that one part of the sheet was over him and one part was over me. Mishkaat 56, Bukhari and Muslim.
*Explanation:* It is known that during menstruation, a woman’s hands, feet, mouth, saliva, and the clothes she wears do not become impure. However, the place on the body or clothes where blood touches becomes impure. Sitting and associating with a menstruating woman is not prohibited. Her leftover food or drink is also pure. If her husband lies in her lap and recites the Noble Quran there is no harm. The same ruling that applies during menstruation also applies during postpartum bleeding. Among Jews and Hindus there is a custom to treat a menstruating woman as untouchable and abandon her. She is not allowed to touch vessels or anyone’s clothes. This is not the case in Islamic Shariah. Islam has elevated women and taught respect for them, but sadly today women have started to consider Islam itself a burden and avoid its commands. It is not disliked for a menstruating woman to cook food or to use flour and water touched by her. Her bedding should not be separated because this resembles the way of the Jews. It is not correct to isolate a menstruating woman so that no one goes where she is. Shaami 1/19.
*What is the limit of intimacy between husband and wife during menstruation?* Hazrat Zaid bin Aslam Reh Tabi’i narrated that a person asked Rasool Kareem Sallallahu Alaihivasallam that when my wife is menstruating, to what extent am I permitted marital relations with her. He Sallallahu Alaihivasallam said tie a lower garment on her and then you may engage with the part above it. Mishkaat 56, Mouta and Musnad Daarimi.
*Explanation:* Among the rulings regarding menstruation is that a husband should not derive sexual pleasure from his wife. But there are many forms of deriving pleasure and the rulings differ. The specific act between husband and wife in which all bounds of modesty are broken is completely forbidden during menstruation. If it ever happens then one must repent. Besides that, sitting, eating, and drinking with a menstruating woman are all permissible, but it is necessary to observe that the husband should not touch the part of the woman’s body from the navel to the knees during menstruation. The part above the navel and below the knees may be touched by the husband, he may kiss it. What is meant in the hadith by tie a lower garment and engage with the part above it is that he may kiss her, he may touch her head, chest, and back. It is obligatory on the woman not to let the man violate the command and certainly not to allow the specific act. If the sinful act occurs with the woman’s consent then she will also be sinful. She should prevent the man from sinning as much as possible.
*Meeting between husband and wife after menstruation ends.* Ruling 1: If a woman’s menstruation ends after completing 10 full days and 10 nights and she has not performed ghusl due to laziness, her husband may have the specific marital act with her even before she performs ghusl. But it is better and preferred to abstain until she performs ghusl. Ruling 2: And if menstruation ends before 10 days according to her habit, for example someone had a habit of 5 or 6 days, and the woman has not yet performed ghusl and not enough time of a prayer has passed in which there is scope for performing ghusl and saying Takbeere Tehrima, then in this case her husband cannot have the specific act with her. Yes, if the woman has performed ghusl or one prayer time has passed in which she could have performed ghusl and said Takbeere Tehrima Allahu Akbar, then the specific act between husband and wife becomes permissible. Ruling 3: If menstruation stops in fewer days than the habitual days, for example the habit was 7 days but in a month the bleeding stopped after 5 days, then the woman should perform ghusl and start prayer and obligatory fasts. But it is not permissible for her husband to have the specific act even if she has performed ghusl. He should wait for the completion of the habitual days. Ruling 4: For a woman who experiences her first menstruation but it stops before 10 days or a woman whose menstruation comes for fewer than her habitual days, for example it stops after 5 days instead of 7, in both cases she should not hurry in performing ghusl but after the bleeding stops she should perform ghusl near the end of the first prayer time that comes or the current prayer time and offer prayer, but she should pray before the disliked time.
*A garment soiled with menstrual blood can be purified and prayer can be offered in it.* Hazrat Abu Bakr Raziyallahu Anhu’s daughter Hazrat Asma Raziyallahu Anha narrated that a woman asked, O Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihivasallam, when menstrual blood gets on any of our garments, what should we do to purify it. He Sallallahu Alaihivasallam said when menstrual blood gets on any of your garments and dries, scrape it off with wood or something, then wash it with water, after that you may pray in that garment. Mishkaat 52, Bukhari and Muslim.
*Explanation:* Blood is major impurity, whether it is menstrual blood, postpartum blood, irregular bleeding, or blood from any other part of the body. When blood gets on a garment, only the area it touches becomes impure. When that area is washed with clean water, the garment becomes pure. If the blood has dried on the garment then it is better to scrape it before washing so that cleaning with water becomes easy. If washed with soap that is also good. In any case, it is not necessary to wash the whole garment, rather considering it legally necessary to wash the whole garment is an innovation, understand this well. Similarly, the garment in which the specific act between husband and wife occurred does not become entirely impure, yes the place where impurity touched becomes impure. In some places there is a custom that after the wedding night all the bride’s clothes are completely washed in the morning and silk clothes are ruined. This is a matter of ignorance.
Post a Comment