Hadith Reference:
Ḥammād bin Zayd narrated from Hishām bin ʿUrwah, who narrated from his father, who narrated from ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها):"Fāṭimah bint Abī Ḥubaysh sought a ruling from the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: 'O Messenger of Allah! I experience prolonged bleeding and do not become pure. Should I stop praying?'
The Prophet (ﷺ) replied: 'That is (not menstruation but) a vein. When menstruation begins, stop praying. When it ends, wash the traces of blood, perform wudu, and then pray. Indeed, it is only a vein, not menstruation.'”
This hadith has been narrated by al-Bayhaqī and a shortened version by Muslim, who omitted the word "perform wudu."
Authenticity & References:
This ḥadīth is authentic (ṣaḥīḥ) and is recorded in:
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (228, 306, 320, 331)
- Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (333)
- Sunan al-Bayhaqī (1/116, 343)
Another Hadith on Istihāḍah (Irregular Bleeding):
ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:"A woman experiencing prolonged bleeding should still pray, even if drops of blood fall onto the mat."
This hadith has been recorded by Abū Bakr al-Ismāʿīlī in his collection from al-Aʿmash, and another narration contains the word "قطراً" (drops).
Authenticity & References:
This ḥadīth is weak (ḍaʿīf) and is recorded in:
- Musnad Imām Aḥmad bin Ḥanbal (6/742, 413, 204, 262)
- Sunan Ibn Mājah (624)
- Maʿānī al-Āthār (1/102)
- Sunan al-Bayhaqī (1/344, 345)
- Sunan al-Dāraquṭnī (1/211, 212)
Key Lessons Derived from the Hadith:
➊ Prayer is prohibited during menstruation, along with fasting and recitation of the Qur'an. However, other activities such as preparing food, sitting together, conversing, touching utensils, and giving good advice remain permissible.➋ Menstruation is a natural condition for all women unless a medical issue prevents it. During this time, a husband should refrain from physical intimacy. Engaging in sexual intercourse during menstruation is a major sin in Islam. Menstrual blood is dark red and flows for a set duration. If menstruation begins after performing wudu or tayammum, the purification becomes invalid.
➌ Menstruation is not a disease, but excessive prolonged bleeding (istihāḍah) is considered an ailment. The blood of istihāḍah is usually lighter in color than menstrual blood. A woman experiencing istihāḍah must perform wudu for every prayer but is not exempt from performing obligatory acts of worship.
➍ After menstruation ends, a woman must perform ghusl. However, for istihāḍah, ghusl is not required—only washing away the blood and performing wudu is sufficient.
➎ Seeking religious rulings from scholars is encouraged, as seen from Fāṭimah bint Abī Ḥubaysh’s question to the Prophet (ﷺ). It is permissible to seek and issue fatwas verbally or in writing, and scholars may accept reasonable compensation for issuing fatwas if they dedicate their time solely to this service. However, clarity in issuing religious rulings is necessary, and both men and women may seek rulings from scholars alike.
[This content has been taken from the book Ḍiyāʾ al-Islām fī Sharḥ al-Imām bi-Aḥādīth al-Aḥkām by Shaykh Taqī al-Dīn Abī al-Fatḥ, translated by Mawlānā Maḥmūd Aḥmad Ghaḍanfar.]
