Determining Menstrual Days During Continuous Istihada
Source: Fatawa Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
Question:
If a woman experiences continuous bleeding due to istihada for three or four months, how should she determine her menstrual days?
Answer:
Since istihada bleeding is continuous, how can menstrual days be distinguished from it? Islamic law provides three methods for this:
① Reference to habitual menstrual cycle:
If menstruation began normally and later istihada occurred, then she will count as menstruation the same days as her regular menstrual habit. Any bleeding outside those days will be regarded as istihada.
❀ Sayyidah Aisha رضي الله عنها narrated:
“Umm Habibah bint Jahsh رضي الله عنها, the wife of Abdur-Rahman ibn ‘Awf رضي الله عنه, complained to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about istihada. He ﷺ said: ‘Stay away (from prayer) for the number of days that you used to menstruate, then perform ghusl.’”
(Sahih Muslim: 334/66)
② Distinction by the nature of blood:
If istihada started before menstruation, then the difference will be recognized by the color and quality of blood. Menstrual blood is dark, thick, and has an offensive odor, while istihada blood is red, thin, and without odor.
❀ Sayyidah Aisha رضي الله عنها said about Umm Habibah bint Jahsh رضي الله عنها:
“She used to bathe in a large tub at her sister Zaynab bint Jahsh’s house, and the redness of the blood would overwhelm the water.”
(Sahih Muslim: 334/64)
③ Reference to the women of her family:
If she had istihada from the very beginning and never knew her menstrual habit, then she will ask the women of her family. She will count as menstruation the same number of days they usually menstruate.
❀ Hammad ibn Abi Sulayman رحمه الله and ‘Ata ibn Abi Rabah رحمه الله said:
“If a woman is afflicted with istihada from the beginning of her menstruation, she will refrain from prayer for the same number of days as any other woman in her family does.”
(Sunan al-Darimi: 875, authentic chain)
⚑ Apart from these three methods, no other way is considered valid.
