Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 869 — How a woman is instructed to perform

Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Once Asma' bint Shakal came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and asked: "When a woman becomes pure from menstruation, how should she perform the ritual bath?" He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "She should take lote-tree leaves and water and first perform ablution. Then she should wash her head, then rub her head so that the water reaches the roots (of the hair), then pour water over her whole body, then take the cloth (used for menstruation) and cleanse herself with it." She said: "O Messenger of Allah! How do I cleanse myself with the cloth?" He said: "Cleanse yourself with it." Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: I understood what he (peace and blessings be upon him) meant, so I said to that woman: "Wipe away the traces of blood."