Authored by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amaanpuri (حفظه الله)
تَجْلِسُ النُّفَسَاءُ نَحْوًا مِّنْ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا .
“A woman experiencing Nifas will refrain from Salah and fasting for approximately forty days.”
[Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: 4/28; As-Sunan al-Kubrā by Al-Bayhaqī: 1/341 – Authentic chain]
◈ Imam At-Tirmidhī رحمه الله stated:
“The scholars among the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, the Tābi‘īn, and those after them have all agreed that a woman in Nifas refrains from prayer for forty days. If she becomes pure before this period, she must perform Ghusl and resume prayer. If she sees blood even after forty days, the majority of scholars say she should continue praying. This is the view of most jurists and was held by Sufyān Ath-Thawrī, Ibn al-Mubārak, Ash-Shāfi‘ī, Ahmad ibn Ḥanbal, and Isḥāq ibn Rāhwayh رحمهم الله.”
[Sunan At-Tirmidhī, commentary under Hadith: 139]
Though the narrations on this subject are weak, the consensus (Ijma‘) of the Ummah suffices to establish the ruling.
❖ Question:
What is the minimum and maximum duration of Nifas (the bleeding that occurs after childbirth)?❖ Answer:
There is no fixed minimum duration for Nifas; however, the maximum duration is forty (40) days.❖ Scholarly Statements:
❀ Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas رضي الله عنهما said:تَجْلِسُ النُّفَسَاءُ نَحْوًا مِّنْ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا .
“A woman experiencing Nifas will refrain from Salah and fasting for approximately forty days.”
[Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: 4/28; As-Sunan al-Kubrā by Al-Bayhaqī: 1/341 – Authentic chain]
◈ Imam At-Tirmidhī رحمه الله stated:
“The scholars among the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, the Tābi‘īn, and those after them have all agreed that a woman in Nifas refrains from prayer for forty days. If she becomes pure before this period, she must perform Ghusl and resume prayer. If she sees blood even after forty days, the majority of scholars say she should continue praying. This is the view of most jurists and was held by Sufyān Ath-Thawrī, Ibn al-Mubārak, Ash-Shāfi‘ī, Ahmad ibn Ḥanbal, and Isḥāq ibn Rāhwayh رحمهم الله.”
[Sunan At-Tirmidhī, commentary under Hadith: 139]
Though the narrations on this subject are weak, the consensus (Ijma‘) of the Ummah suffices to establish the ruling.
Summary:
- Minimum duration:
No fixed time. - Maximum duration: ✔ 40 days.
- If purity is attained before 40 days, she should perform Ghusl and resume prayer and fasting.
- If bleeding continues after 40 days, she is considered pure according to the majority of scholars and should resume acts of worship.
