Why is this chapter indispensable?
"The chapter on menstruation is one of the most complex chapters... knowledge of the matters related to this chapter is essential due to the large number of rulings derived from it."
— Ibn Abidîn
For a Muslim woman, understanding the rules related to menstruation, lochia, and metrorrhagia is not an option: it is a religious obligation. These chapters directly condition the validity of prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and many other acts of worship that structure daily life.
Contrary to what one might think, these rules are not there to complicate a woman's life, but to enable her to worship Allah with clarity and serenity. As the Qur'an reminds us: "He has not placed upon you in religion any difficulty."
Good to know: A woman with a regular cycle will have few difficulties. These rules mainly apply to those who cannot distinguish menstrual blood from pathological discharge. It is precisely for them that this guide has been written.
Menstruation (hayd): understanding everything
Definition
Menstruation refers to a natural, cyclical, and regular blood discharge that occurs in women after puberty. It originates from the uterus and recurs at specific intervals. Its wisdom is profound: this blood serves as a nutritive base for the baby during pregnancy, which explains why pregnant women generally do not menstruate.
Age of onset and menopause
The minimum age at which periods can appear is 9 years old. There is no legally set maximum age for menopause. Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya states: if blood with the characteristics of menstruation occurs after 60 or 70 years, it is considered menstruation.
Characteristics of menstrual blood
Dark red to black, darker than arterial blood
Thick, does not clot unlike venous blood
Warm to the touch
Odorous, characteristic of menstruation
Brown or yellowish discharge before complete purification, or during the usual period of menstruation, is considered menstruation. Outside of this period, it is not — Umm Atiyya al-Ansariyya reported that they did not count such discharge after purity.
Duration of menstruation
Legal Durations
| Limit | Duration |
|---|---|
| Minimum | 1 day and 1 night (24h) |
| Maximum | 15 days |
Beyond 15 days, the blood is considered metrorrhagia. Less than 24 hours, it does not count as menstruation.
Does a pregnant woman have her period?
No. The majority of scholars, including Sa'id ibn al-Musayyib and Al-Hasan, agree that a pregnant woman cannot have menstruation. If she observes blood, it is not menstrual blood. The Qur'an indirectly confirms this: the waiting period for a pregnant woman ends at childbirth and not after three cycles.
Purification after menstruation
How to know that menstruation has ended?The end of menstruation is recognized by two signs:
- White discharge (al-qassa al-baydaa): a whitish discharge indicating the end of blood.
- Complete absence of discharge: no more discharge, verification is done by inserting cotton which comes out clean.
Aisha رضیالله عنه used to tell women: "Do not rush until you see the white discharge."
The greater ablution (ghusl): complete steps
Menstruation necessitates the greater ablution. A woman must hasten to perform it as soon as the bleeding stops — especially if the delay means missing an obligatory prayer.
-
1
Form the intention in the heart (niyyah)
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2
Wash hands three times
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3
Wash private parts and remove all impurities
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4
Perform the minor ablution (wudû) completely
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5
Pour water over the head 3 times, working fingers through to the roots, massaging the scalp
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6
Pour water over the entire body, starting with the right side
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7
Wash the feet
When you see your menses, do not pray. And when they end, perform your ghusl and resume your prayer.— The Prophet ﷺ, reported by Al-Bukhâri
The case of hair
It is not enough to just wet the surface of the hair: water must reach the roots. It is not obligatory to undo braids — except for the opinion of some scholars like Al-Hasan, who believe it is specific to purification after menstruation. The essential thing is that the water irrigates the scalp well.
Garment stained with blood
Menstrual blood is impure (najis) and must be washed. The method: rub the stain, then wash with water. If the trace persists despite proper washing, the garment is considered pure and prayer with it is valid.
Metrorrhagia (istihadha): distinguishing the normal from the pathological
Metrorrhagia refers to any discharge of blood that does not correspond to menstruation or lochia. This blood comes from a uterine vein, and not from the upper part of the uterus like menstruation.
How to distinguish the two?
| Criterion | Menstrual blood | Metrorrhagia blood |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Dark, murky | Bright red |
| Consistency | Thick, does not clot | Fluid, clots |
| Odor | Odorous | Odorless |
| Origin | Upper uterus | Uterine vein (lower) |
| Regularity | Regular and cyclical | Irregular, abnormal |
If it is menstrual blood, it is dark and recognizable, so do not pray. And if it is the other blood, it comes from a vein.
— The Prophet ﷺ to Fatima bint Abi Hubaysh, reported by Abû DawûdWhat should a woman suffering from metrorrhagia do?
A woman suffering from metrorrhagia is considered pure, except during her usual period of menstruation. Before each prayer, she must:
- Clean the blood
- Apply protection (pad, cotton)
- Perform ablution (wudu)
Ghusl before each prayer is preferable but not obligatory, unless she is able to do so.
Lochia (nifas): after childbirth
Lochia refers to the blood expelled from the uterus during and after childbirth. Its ruling is similar to that of menstruation for most rules.
Duration of lochia
Legal durations
| Limit | Duration |
|---|---|
| Minimum | No minimum duration |
| Maximum | 40 days |
If blood persists after 40 days, the woman must purify herself and apply the rules for metrorrhagia.
The case of miscarriage
According to the stage of pregnancy
| Stage | Ruling on blood |
|---|---|
| 1 to 40 days (sperm drop) | Not lochia |
| 41 to 80 days (clotted blood) | Not lochia |
| 81 to 120 days | Lochia if human appearance, otherwise not |
| More than 4 months (soul breathed) | Lochia |
Caesarean section
If a woman gives birth by caesarean section without blood discharge, she is not in a period of lochia. If blood flows nonetheless, the rules for lochia apply normally.
Purity during lochia
If the woman sees purity before 40 days, she must obligatorily purify herself and pray. If the blood returns during the 40 days, it is still lochia. After 40 days, it is metrorrhagia.
What can or cannot be done during these periods?
Here is a summary table of acts of worship according to the three states:
On making up for fasting: Aisha رضیالله عنه used to make up her Ramadan days in the month of Sha'ban. They can be made up at any time of the year, but not beyond the following Ramadan without a valid reason.
On tawaf: if a woman cannot wait to be purified to perform tawaf (imminent return journey, etc.), Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah says that her tawaf is valid and she has no sin.
Frequently Asked Questions
My period lasted 16 days, what should I do?
You must purify yourself from the 15th day, as the maximum legal duration is 15 days. The blood from the 16th day onwards is considered metrorrhagia. Perform your ghusl, apply protection, and resume prayer.
I observed blood 7 days after my period ended, is this a new period?
For it to be considered a new menstrual period, there must have been at least 13 days of purity between the two discharges. With only 7 days, this blood is attached to the first period or is considered metrorrhagia depending on the characteristics.
The blood stopped during my period then resumed 12 hours later, should I purify myself?
No. To be considered true purity, the interruption must last for at least one day and one night. A 12-hour interruption does not constitute purity: your period continues.
Can I read the Quran during my period?
Yes. According to Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and other scholars, there is no authentic and explicit text prohibiting the oral reading of the Quran during menstruation. So you can recite it. However, it is forbidden to touch the Mushaf without an intermediary.
My cycle has been irregular for years, how do I know if it's menstruation or metrorrhagia?
First, base it on the characteristics of the blood (color, odor, consistency). If the blood shows no perceptible difference, refer to the usual duration for women around you (generally 6 to 7 days from the first day of bleeding).
Taking care of yourself is also an ibâda
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