Al Kafi li al-Fatawi

Question:

Assalamualaikum. I am confused to determine between the period of time for istihadhah and haidh. How can we know the next menstrual cycle (haidh) after istihadhah? Hope for an explanation from ustaz. Thank you.

Answer:

Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.

As an introduction, we bring first the meaning of haidh and istihadhah according to syarak to settle the confusion between these two.

Haidh (menstruation) according to syarak is a natural discharge of blood from vagina of a woman while she is healthy for certain period of time. [al-Wajiz fi al-Fiqh al-Islami 1:118 ]

While istihadhah according to syarak is an irregular discharge of blood from the lowest vein located under the uterus which is known as (العاذل) after the longest period of normal menstruation cycle, postpartum bleeding or blood discharges continuously after the normal menstruation cycle. [al-Wajiz fi al-Fiqh al-Islami 1:126]. Next, istihadhah is:

• Blood discharges two times with a gap of pure that is less than 15 days.
• Blood discharges after the longest period of 15 normal menstruation days.
• Blood discharges for less than 24 hours.
• Blood discharges before the age of 9 years old.
• Blood discharges after the period of 60 postpartum bleeding days.

From the definition of istihadhah as well as its characteristics, it can be concluded that it is an irregular discharge not at the normal period of menstruation or postpartum bleeding or in other words, it is during a woman in pure state.

Next, referring to the next question on menstruation, we would like to explain the method to count the period of pure. This is to know the days which are the gap between one cycle of haidh and the other:

• The minimum period of pure is 15 days (أقل الطهر). This is set by following the longest period of a cycle which is 15 days (أكثر الحيض). This is based on the research (istiqra’ method) by Imam al-Shafi’e.
• The normal period of pure for a woman is 23 days (غالب الطهر). This is set by considering the normal period of menstruation which is 7 days. (غالب الحيض)
• The maximum period of pure is limitless because in some cases there are women whose menstruation in a month is only a day and a night which is 24 hours and there are those whose menstruation is once every six months. (Refer Izalatul Iltibas Syarah Tuhfah al-A`izza’ ).

The counting of the period of pure between two haidhs

For example, Woman (A) discovers that her menses discharge on 1-12 of August which is 12 days long. Then, after a week, blood discharges on 19^th August. So, the blood is considered as istihadhah. This is because the blood discharges during the gap of the minimum period of pure. Hence, it is wajib for her to perform obligatory prayer by wearing a sanitary pad after washing her private parts, and to take ablution for each obligatory prayer without having to perform an obligatory bath. However, when she reaches the 29^th August which is the minimum period of pure ends which is 15 days after ending the last menstruation cycle. So, the second menstruation cycle is considered starting again if on 29^th August there still is a blood discharge. Hence, the discharge is the start of the new menstruation cycle. The following is the table for this woman (A) cycle:

Further reading on the colour of istihadhah blood can be read at Al-Kafi #685: Istihadhah Blood; in accordance with Tamyiz or Adat?

In conclusion, the method of counting the period of pure between two haidhs is highly important to differentiate between blood discharges during the haidh period or istihadhah which discharges during the period of pure. In addition, the ruling of istihadhah women (mustahadhah) is the same as women in a pure state and she is permitted to perform the acts of worship like fasting, prayer, i’tikaf and reciting al-Quran. Lastly, may this guide give us some guidance and let’s pray for us to be given the correct understanding of religion. Ameen.