Source: Fatawa Arkan al-Islam
A woman’s usual menstrual period was six days, but later its duration increased. In such a case, is it permissible for her to pray?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
If a woman’s usual menstrual duration is six days and later increases to nine, ten, or eleven days:
◈ She will not pray until she attains purity.
◈ The reason is that the Prophet ﷺ did not set a fixed limit for the number of menstrual days.
﴿وَيَسـَٔلونَكَ عَنِ المَحيضِ قُل هُوَ أَذًى﴾
…Sūrat al-Baqarah: 222
“And they ask you concerning menstruation. Say: It is an impurity.”
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
❖ Question
A woman’s usual menstrual period was six days, but later its duration increased. In such a case, is it permissible for her to pray?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
If a woman’s usual menstrual duration is six days and later increases to nine, ten, or eleven days:
◈ She will not pray until she attains purity.
◈ The reason is that the Prophet ﷺ did not set a fixed limit for the number of menstrual days.
❖ Clear Guidance from the Qur’an
﴿وَيَسـَٔلونَكَ عَنِ المَحيضِ قُل هُوَ أَذًى﴾
…Sūrat al-Baqarah: 222
“And they ask you concerning menstruation. Say: It is an impurity.”
❖ Key Points
- As long as menstrual bleeding continues, the woman is considered in a state of menstruation.
- Once purity is attained and she performs ghusl, she may pray.
- If in the next month the menstrual duration becomes shorter than before, she will still perform ghusl and start praying as soon as menstruation ends, even if it is not according to her previous habit.
- The fundamental principle is:
- A woman should not pray during menstruation.
- Regardless of whether its duration matches her previous habit, is longer, or is shorter.
- She is exempt from prayer as long as bleeding continues, and she must resume prayer once she becomes pure.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
