◈ Definition of Ḥayḍ (Menstruation) ◈
Ḥayḍ refers to the dark-colored blood that naturally flows from the womb of a mature woman during specific days each month.
☑ The usual duration of menstruation ranges from three to seven days.
◈ Prohibited Acts During Ḥayḍ and Nifās (Postpartum Bleeding) ◈
➊ Prohibition of Ṣalāh and Ṣawm
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“When a woman menstruates, she does not pray nor fast during Ramadan.”
(Bukhārī: 304; Muslim: 79)When Maʿādhah asked Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها:
“Why does a menstruating woman make up missed fasts but not prayers?”
She replied:
“That used to happen to us during the time of the Messenger ﷺ — we were ordered to make up the fasts but not the prayers.”
(Muslim: 335)➋ Prohibition of Intercourse During Ḥayḍ
Allah ﷻ says:
(فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاءَ فِي الْمَحِيضِ)
(Al-Baqarah: 222)“So avoid intercourse with women during their menstruation.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever has intercourse with a menstruating woman must give one or half a dīnār in charity.”
(Abū Dāwūd: 264; Ḥākim and Dhahabī authenticated it)- One dīnār = approx. 4.5 māsha (gold)
- Half dīnār = approx. 2.25 māsha
➡ Should be given to someone deserving and sincere repentance must be made.
Sayyiduna Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:
“If the blood is red, give one dīnār; if yellow, give half.”
(Tirmidhī: 137, Abū Dāwūd: 267; declared authentic in mūqūf form by al-Albānī)➌ Prohibition of Ṭawāf During Ḥayḍ
Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said:
“I went for Ḥajj with the Prophet ﷺ and menstruated on the way. I cried.
He ﷺ said:
‘This is something Allah has decreed for the daughters of Ādam. Do everything the pilgrim does except Ṭawāf of the Kaʿbah. Perform Ṭawāf after ghusl.’”
(Bukhārī: 1650; Muslim: 1211)◈ Permissible Acts During Ḥayḍ and Nifās
➊ Touching, Sitting, and Eating with Menstruating Women
Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه reported:
“The Jews avoided eating and drinking with menstruating women.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
‘Do everything with her except intercourse.’”
(Muslim: 302)Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said:
“The Prophet ﷺ instructed me to wear an izār (lower garment) during menstruation, and he would embrace me.”
(Bukhārī: 300; Muslim: 293)Another narration:
“The Prophet ﷺ asked me to hand him a mat from the mosque.
I said: ‘I am menstruating.’
He replied: ‘Your menstruation is not in your hand.’”
(Muslim: 298)She also said:
“The Prophet ﷺ would recite Qur’an while his head rested in my lap, and I was menstruating.”
(Bukhārī: 297; Muslim: 301)➋ Recitation of Qur'an and Dhikr
There is no authentic hadith that strictly prohibits Qur'an recitation during menstruation or Janābah.
Imām Nawawī رحمه الله said:
“It is unanimously agreed that a menstruating woman may say tasbīḥ, taḥmīd, takbīr, duʿā’, and other adhkār.”
(al-Majmūʿ)Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها said the Prophet ﷺ told her:
“Do everything a pilgrim does except Ṭawāf.”
(Bukhārī: 294; Muslim: 1211)Sayyidah Umm ʿAṭiyyah رضي الله عنها said:
“The Prophet ﷺ commanded even menstruating women to attend the Eid gathering, recite takbīr and make duʿā’, but not to pray.”
(Bukhārī: 981; Muslim: 890)Sayyidah ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها also said:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ remembered Allah in all conditions.”
(Muslim: 373)Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله:
“The correct view is that menstruating and postpartum women may recite the Qur’an, as there is no explicit prohibition.”
(Fatāwā Islāmiyyah 1/319)
Touching the Mushaf is not allowed during Janābah or ḥayḍ.Imām al-Shawkānī رحمه الله said:
“There is consensus that someone in a state of major impurity may not touch the Qur’an.”
(Nayl al-Awṭār)◈ Rulings on Istihādah (Irregular Bleeding)
Definition:
Istihādah is the discharge of blood outside the regular days of menstruation, often yellow or muddy in color. It is classified as a medical condition, not menstruation.
Relevant Hadiths:
Sayyidah Fāṭimah bint Abī Ḥubaysh رضي الله عنها asked the Prophet ﷺ:
“I experience continuous bleeding. Should I stop praying?”
He ﷺ replied:
“No. That is from a vein. When actual menstruation occurs, stop praying.
When it ends, perform ghusl and resume praying.”
(Bukhārī: 306; Muslim: 333)He ﷺ also said:
“Menstrual blood is black and thick. If that appears, stop praying.
If it’s another color, perform wudu and pray.”
(Abū Dāwūd: 286)Sayyidah Umm ʿAṭiyyah رضي الله عنها said:
“We did not consider yellow or brown discharge (after menstruation) to be of significance.”
(Bukhārī: 326; Abū Dāwūd: 307)Differences Between Ḥayḍ and Istihādah
- Ḥayḍ: black, thick, odorous blood
- Istihādah: yellow, pale, odorless, and irregular
A woman who can differentiate between ḥayḍ and istihādah should only skip ṣalāh during menstruation.
If not, she should follow her previous monthly cycle.
If she has no habit, she should follow the menstrual cycle of her female relatives.
Rulings for Mustaḥāḍah:
- Perform ghusl once ḥayḍ ends
- Make new wudu for every prayer
(Bukhārī: 228) - May pray, fast, perform iʿtikāf, ṭawāf, and other worship
- Intercourse with her is permissible
(Abū Dāwūd: 210)
◈ Rulings of Nifās (Postpartum Bleeding)
Duration:
Sayyidah Umm Salamah رضي الله عنها said:
“Women used to sit for forty days during nifās at the time of the Prophet ﷺ.”
(Abū Dāwūd: 311; Tirmidhī: 139; Ibn Mājah: 648)✔ Most scholars agree: maximum duration is 40 days
If bleeding continues beyond 40 days, it is istihādah. If no blood appears after childbirth, ghusl is obligatory, and prayers are to be performed.(Imām al-Shāfiʿī رحمه الله)
Prohibited Acts During Nifās
- Prayer
- Fasting
- Sexual intercourse
Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله:
“If a woman becomes pure before 40 days, she must perform ghusl and may resume worship and marital relations.
There is no minimum duration of nifās.”
(Fatāwā Islāmiyyah 1/325)Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn رحمه الله:
“If a miscarriage occurs in the third month and fetal features are visible, post-miscarriage bleeding is nifās.
Otherwise, it is irregular bleeding.”
(Fatāwā Islāmiyyah 1/327)Making Up Missed Prayers in Nifās
The Prophet ﷺ did not order women to make up missed prayers during nifās.
(Abū Dāwūd: 311; authenticated by Ḥākim and Dhahabī)
