Fiqh of Menstruation (3 of 4)

Length of Menstrual Period

Menstrual period is over when the blood stops, regardless of whether the blood was a lot or a little. Many Jurists stated that the shortest length of a woman’s period is a day and a night, and the longest is fifteen days and the most correct is that there is no minimum or maximum length for it; when the bleeding is present with its distinct qualities, this is menstruation. Majmoo’ al-Fataawaa, 19/237

Signs that her Menstrual Period has ended

These are:

1. The white discharge which comes from the womb to show that the period is over. al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah (23/279).

2. Complete dryness; she can find out if her period has ended by inserting a piece of white cotton or something similar into the place where the blood comes from; if it comes out clean, then her period is over and she has to do ghusl and pray. If the cloth comes out red, yellow or brown, she should not pray. The women used to send small containers in which were these cloths with traces of yellow on them to ‘A'ishah Radiyallahu 'aniha, and she would say, “Do not hasten until you see the white discharge.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari mu’allaqan. Kitaab al-Hayd, Baab iqbaal al-muhayd wa idbaarihi. Also by Maalik, 130), al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, no. 198, al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaitiyyah (18/295), Radd al-Muhtaar (1/289), Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baaz (29/116), Risaalat al-Dima’ al-Tabee’iyyah (59).

Yellow or Brownish Discharge after Woman’s Period

A yellow or brownish discharge when a woman does not have her period or when her period has stopped does not mean anything, and she should not stop praying or do ghusl because of it. Umm ‘Atiyyah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “We did not bother about any yellow or brownish discharge after a woman’s period was over.” Abu Dawood, 307. al-Bukhaari, 320, an-Nasaa’i, 468; Ibn Maajah, 647, Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baaz (10/207-208), Thamaraat at-Tadween, p. 24, 25, Mawsoo‘ah Ahkaam at-Tahaarah by Shaykh Abu ‘Umar al-Dabyaan (may Allah preserve him), 6/281-299; al-Mawsoo‘ah al-Fiqhiyyah, 18/296; al-Mughni, 1/202; al-Majmoo‘, 2/422, al-Dima’ al-Tabee’iyyah li’l-Nisa’ (p. 19) Fataawa Arkaan al-Islam (p. 258) al-Majmoo‘ (2/562), Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah (4/222 vol. 2) (4/206), al-Mughni by Ibn Qudaamah (1/214)

To be cont…Inshaa Allah

May Allah grant us understanding of His religion and accept it as an act of ‘ibadah

FIQH CLASS