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Fatwas Regarding Women

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful


Question Related to Menstruationand Post-Partum Bleeding

Using Pills that Prevent Menstruation

Question: There are pills that will prevent the menses or delay their occurrence. Is it allowed to use such pills during the time of pilgrimage only out of fear of one's menses coming?

Response: It is allowed for a woman to use pills that will prevent her menses during the time of pilgrimage out of fear that her menses may come. But this should be after she has consulted with a specialist who makes certain that her health will be fine. Similarly, she may do the same during Ramadhan if she desires to fast with the people.1

The Standing Committee


Footnote

1. There seems to be no need for women to go to such lengths. This probably could be considered a kind of overzealousness. There is no real certainty as to the health risks of such pills, like birth control pills. Furthermore, the menses are a natural matter that Allah has ordained for women and there is no need to flee from them. Hence, it must be considered best for women to abstain from such pills since there is no call for them and they cannot be certain of their side effects. Allah knows best.--JZ

Discontinuation of Bleeding During the Menses

Question: Sometimes it happens to me, during my menses, that I have blood for four days and then the blood stops for three days. Then on the Seventh day the blood returns, but not as intense as previously. Then it turns to a brown color until the twelfth day. I hope you will guide me to what is correct in this matter.

Response: The days that you mentioned, the four and the six day periods, are days of menstruation, You should not pray or fast during those days. It is not allowed for your husband to have sexual intercourse with you during those days. You should make ghusl after the four days and then pray and your husband may have intercourse with you during that period between the four and the six days. Also, there is no prohibition upon your fasting. If that occurs during Ramadhan, it is obligatory upon you to fast. And when you become pure after those six days, you must make ghusl, pray and fast like any other time of purity. This is because the monthly menses can increase or decrease. Its days are sometimes together and sometimes separated.1 May Allah guide us all to what pleases Him. May He provide us, you and all the Muslims with understanding and steadfastness in the religion.

Shaikh Ibn Baz


Footnote

1. In response to this question, the Shaikh has basically given the Hanbali view of the question. There are some other views, that state that the entire period is that of menstruation, which may carry more weight to them. Allah knows best.-- JZ

Drops of Blood After Making Ghusl

Question: I notice that sometimes after making ghusl due to my monthly menses, after having had my period for a normal amount of time, five days, I have a very small amount of drops coming out. This occurs right after I make ghusl. After that, nothing else comes out. I do not know what to do. Should I follow my normal five-day period and simply ignore what occurs after that and continue to pray and fast? Or should I consider that day also part of my period and not pray or fast during it? Note that such does not always occur to me but only occurs every two or three, or so, monthly cycles. I hope you will benefit me on this matter.

Response: If what comes out after your washing is either yellow or brown, it is not to be taken into consideration [as menses] and it takes the same ruling as urine.1

However, if it is clearly blood, it will then be considered part of the menses and you must repeat the ghusl due to what is confirmed from Umm Atiya, one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), who said, "We would not consider yellowish or brownish discharge as anything2 after we had been purified [from menses]."3

Shaikh Ibn Baz


Footnote

1. Meaning, it must be washed off the clothing and the person must make ablution from such discharge.-JZ

2. That is, "We would not consider it as menses."

3. Recorded by al-Bukhari.-- JZ

If a Woman Ends Her Menses Before Sunset, She Must Perform the Dhuhr and Asr Prayers

Question: When a menstruating woman becomes pure before sunrise is it obligatory upon her to perform the Maghrib and Isha prayers? Similarly, if She becomes pure before sunset, is it obligatory upon her to perform the Dhuhr and Asr prayers?

Response: If a menstruating or post-partum bleeding woman becomes pure before sunset, it is obligatory upon her to perform both the Dhuhr and Asr prayers according to the strongest opinion among the scholars. Similar is the case if she becomes pure before dawn. In that case, she must perform the Maghrib and Isha prayers. This has been narrated from Abdul Rahman Ibn Anf and Abdullah Ibn Abbas. This is the opinion of the majority of the scholars. Similarly, if a menstruating or post-partum bleeding woman becomes pure before sunrise, it is obligatory upon her to perform the Fajr prayer. And from Allah is guidance.

Shaikh Ibn Baz

The Menstruating Woman Keeping Herself Clean From Urine

Question: When I am menstruating, I do not clean myself from urine with water because I fear that the water may harm me. What is the ruling concerning that?


Response: It suffices, in place of water, to clean yourself with clean tissue paper or any other pure solid object that will remove the impure substance, such as a rock, piece of wood or similar substances. This wiping should be done three times or more, until the impure substance is removed. This ruling is not just for you or anyone in a case like yours. However, it is for all Muslim men and women. This is based on what has been confirmed from Aisha that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

"When one of you goes to relieve himself, he should clean himself with three stones and that will be sufficient for him."

This was recorded by Ahmad, al-Nasal and Abu Dawud, as well as al-Daraqutni who said its chain is sahih hasan. It is also confirmed from Salman al-Farsi that it was said to him, "Your Prophet teaches you everything, even how to go to the bathroom." Salman said, "Certainly! He prohibited us from facing the qibla while defecating or urinating, from cleaning our genitals with our right hand, from cleaning ourselves with less than three stones and from cleaning ourselves with dung or bone." This was recorded by Muslim, Abu Dawud and al-Tirmidhi.

Shaikh Ibn Baz

Getting Her Menses While She is in the Mosque

Question: A woman had blood starting to flow while she was in the Mosque of the Prophet (peace be upon him). She stayed in the mosque for a little while until her husband had finished the prayer and she could leave with him. Did she commit a sin?

Response: If she was not able to depart from the mosque by herself, then there is no harm in what she did. However, if she was able to leave by herself, it is obligatory upon her to exit as quickly as possible. This is because the menstruating woman, post-partum bleeding woman and sexually defiled person are not allowed to sit in the mosques. This is based on Allah's statement,

"Nor while sexually defiled except when traveling on a road" (al-Nisa 43).1

It is also narrated from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said,

"I do not permit the menstruating woman or the sexually defiled person to enter the mosque."2

Shaikh Ibn Baz


Footnote

1. Note that the verse is in reference only to those who are sexually defiled. Obviously, the differences between a menstruating women and a sexually defiled person are very great. Hence, one cannot make an analogy between the two. Furthermore, there is also a difference of opinion concerning whether this verse implies anyone who becomes sexually defiled or only the travelers who become sexually defiled.-- JZ

2. Recorded by Abu Dawud and, with a different wording, by Ibn Majah. The authenticity of this hadith is greatly debated among the scholars of hadith. The way Shaikh Ibn Baz has presented the hadith shows that either he has some doubt about the hadith or he himself considers the hadith to be weak. If this hadith is weak and the above verse is not in reference to menstruating women, there is no strong evidence that states that a menstruating woman may not enter the mosque. Unfortunately, this is not the proper place for a detailed presentation of the different views on that question.-JZ

It is Permissible for a Menstruating Woman to Recite the Quran and Books of Supplications

Question: Is it allowed for a menstruating woman to read a book of supplications on the Day of Arafah, given the fact that the book contains Quranic verses?

Response: There is no harm in a menstruating or post-partum bleeding woman reading the books of supplications that are written for the rites of the pilgrimage. In fact, there is nothing wrong with her reciting the Quran according to the correct opinion. There is no authentic, clear text prohibiting a menstruating or post-partum bleeding woman from reciting the Quran. The thing that is narrated is concerned with the sexually defiled person only, as such should not recite the Quran while he is sexually defiled. This is based on the hadith of Ali. As for the menstruating or post-partum bleeding woman, there is the hadith of Ibn Umar which states,

"Neither the menstruating woman nor the sexually defiled person is to recite anything from the Quran."

However, this is weak. This is because it is from the narrations of Ismail ibn Iyyash on the authority of people from the Hijaz and he is weak when he narrates from them. However, she may recite from her memory without touching the Quran. As for the sexually defiled person, he/she may not even recite the Quran from memory or touch the mushaf until he/she makes ghusl. The difference between the two is that the amount of time one is sexually defiled is very short as he may make ghusl as soon as he has done the act with his spouse. The amount of time is not long and he is in control of its length as he may make ghusl whenever he wishes. Even if he cannot find water, he can make tayammum and pray or recite the Quran. However, the menstruating or post-partum bleeding woman does not have control over their lengths, such control is in the hand of Allah. Menstruation and post-partum bleeding take days. Therefore, it is allowed for them to recite the Quran so that they do not forget what they have memorized and so they will not lose the merits of reciting it. It is also so they may learn the laws of the Shariah from the Book of Allah. Therefore it is even more so permissible for her to read the books of supplications that have verses and hadith intermixed with them. This is the correct view and is the correct opinion of the scholars- may Allah have mercy on them- on that point.

Shaikh Ibn Baz

Ruling Concerning a Miscarriage

Question: Some women have miscarriages. Sometimes the fetus comes out fully formed while at another times it does not. I would like you to make clear the ruling for prayer in both of those situations.

Response: If a woman has a miscarriage and the fetus has clearly human figures to it, such as a head, hand, leg and so forth, then her bleeding is post-natal bleeding. She follows the rulings of post-natal bleeding. She does not pray or fast and her husband cannot have sexual intercourse with her until the bleeding stops or she completes forty days. If the bleeding stops before the 40th day, she must make ghusl, pray, fast during Ramadhan and her husband may have sexual intercourse with her.

There is no minimum length of time for post-partum bleeding. The bleeding could stop after ten days, more or less, and then she must make ghusl and all the laws of a ritually pure person apply to her. If she sees any blood after the fortieth day, it is considered bleeding from illness. She would then fast and pray with that bleeding and it is permissible for her husband to have intercourse with her. She must make ablution for the time of every prayer, like the mustahaadha,1 as the Prophet (peace be upon him) told Fatima bint Abu Hubaish,

"Make ablution for the time of every prayer."2

If the blood that flows from her after the forty-day period coincides with the time of her menses, then it takes on the ruling of menses. It is forbidden for her to pray or fast until she becomes pure. And it is forbidden for her husband to have intercourse with her.

However, if what comes out of the woman does not resemble a human being, such as when it is simply a smooth lump of flesh or clot of blood, then she takes the ruling of istihaadha and not that of post-partum bleeding. She should pray, fast during Ramadhan and may have intercourse with her husband. She should make ablution for the time of every prayer while keeping herself clean from the blood by a panty liner or something similar, like the mustahaadha, until the bleeding stops. She may also combine the Dhuhr and Asr prayers together and the Maghrib and Isha prayers together. She may also make a ghusl for the combined prayers and a separate ghusl for the Fajr prayer based on the confirmed hadith of Hamnah bint Jahsh. This is because she is to be treated like a mustahaadha according to the people of knowledge.

Shaikh Ibn Baz


Footnote

1. The mustahaaadha is the woman with istikhaadha. Istihaadha is either a prolonged flow of blood (called menorrhagia in English) or bleeding outside of the menses (called metrorrhagia in English). Many hospitals and medical clinics in the United States have pamphlets stating what women should do in such cases. In some cases, especially when the bleeding is prolonged, it may be symptoms of some other disorder.--JZ

2. As mentioned earlier, this translator was not able to find this hadith with this exact wording. The authentic narrations in al-Bukhari and Muslim simply state that she is to make ablution for every prayer.-- JZ

Ruling Concerning a Discharge of Blood Five Days Before Giving Birth

Question: A woman had bleeding during pregnancy, five days before giving birth, during the month of Ramadhan. Should that blood be considered menstruation or istihaadha and what are the obligations upon her?

Response: If the matter is as mentioned, with her seeing blood five days before giving birth, and she did not have any signs that labor would be soon, such as contractions, in that case, the blood is neither menstruation nor post-partum bleeding. It is simply irregular blood. Therefore, she should not abandon the acts of worship but she must fast and pray. If along with the blood she has signs that her labor is near, such as contractions, then it is considered post-partum bleeding and she abandons, due to it, praying and fasting. Then if she becomes pure after giving birth, she must make up the days of fasting but not the prayers.

The Standing Committee

The Meaning of the Word Quru '

Question: Allah says in the Quran,

"And [divorced women] shall wait for three quru`" (al-Baqara 228).

What is the meaning here of the word quru`?

Response: Lexically, quru' can mean the time of purity and it can also mean the menses itself. However, the correct meaning in the verse is the menses as this is its most often usage by the Lawgiver and is the opinion of the majority of the Companions.

Shaikh Ibn Jibreen

If the Menses Continue for More Than Their Normal Length

Question: If a woman normally has menses for eight or seven days but once or twice she has them for a longer period, what is the ruling concerning that?

Response: If that woman normally has her menses for six or seven days and then they become longer, becoming eight, nine, ten or eleven days, then she remains not praying until she becomes pure. This is because the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not set any specific limit for menstruation. Allah says in the Quran,

"They ask you concerning menstruation. Say: It is a harmful thing..." (al-Baqara 222).

As long as that blood is flowing, the woman remains in her state of menses until she becomes pure [the blood stops] and she makes ghusl and prays. If, in the following month, the blood comes for a shorter period of time, she makes ghusl when the blood stops even if it was not as long as the previous period. The important point is that as long as the woman is having menses, she remains in that state as long as she has bleeding and she does not pray, regardless of whether that amount of time is the same, longer or shorter than her previous menses. When the blood stops, she prays.

Shaikh Ibn Uthaimin

If a Woman Has a Miscarriage in the Third Month of Her Pregnancy

Question: A year ago, I had a miscarriage in my third month of pregnancy. I stopped praying until the blood stopped. It was said to me that I should have prayed. What should I do now since I do not know the exact number of days I did not pray?


Response: What is well-known and accepted among the scholars is that if a woman has a miscarriage in the third month, she does not pray. This is because when the woman has such a miscarriage the fetus has clear signs of being a human. Therefore, the blood that then flows is considered post-partum bleeding and the woman does not pray. The scholars say that fetus take on the shape of a human after eighty-one days, which is less than three months. If you are certain that you had a miscarriage after three months, the blood that came was post-partum bleeding. However, if it were before eighty days, then the blood that came is irregular or abnormal blood and she should not leave the prayer due to it. So the one who asked the question must see if the miscarriage was before eighty days, in which case she must make up the prayers she missed. If she does not know how many days she missed, she must estimate the matter and make up what she believes she has missed.

Shaikh Ibn Uthaimin

Prayer of a Menstruating Woman

Question: While I was praying, my menses began. What should I do? Do I make up the prayers of the time of my menses?

Response: If the menses come after the beginning of a time for prayer, for example, if you receive your menses a half an hour after high noon, then you must make up that prayer after your bleeding has ended since when its time began you were in a state of purity. This is based on Allah's statement,

"Verily, the prayer is enjoined upon the believers at fixed hours" (al-Nisa 103).

Do not make up the prayers you missed while menstruating. This is based on the lengthy hadith in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Is it not the case that when you menstruate, you do not pray or fast?"1

There is a consensus of the scholars that the prayers missed during menstruation are not to be made up. However, if she becomes pure [the bleeding stops] and she has enough time to pray one rakah or more of a prayer, then she must pray the prayer of that time in which she became pure. This is based on the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)

"Whoever catches one rakah of the Asr Prayer before sunset has caught the Asr Prayer."2

If the woman becomes pure during the time of Asr or before sunrise and there is enough time before sunset or sunrise to pray one rakah, then she prays Asr in the former case and Fajr in the latter case.

Shaikh Ibn Uthaimin


Footnote

1. Recorded by al-Bukhari. This is the hadith that is mentioned in the Arabic text but it seems that there is something wrong here. This hadith in no way proves what the Shaikh is trying to prove. Indeed, one could conclude from the printed text that the woman does not make up her missed days of fasting either. That is clearly wrong and not the opinion of Shaikh Ibn Uthaimin. Hence, he must have been quoting or referring to a different hadith.--JZ

2. Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.--JZ


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