What Is Menstruation (Hayz)?
In linguistic terms, hayz means flowing. In Islamic jurisprudence, menstruation refers to blood that comes from the uterus and exits through the vagina without being caused by pregnancy, childbirth, or illness. Menstruation begins with the appearance of blood. The discharge of blood is considered valid when it reaches the outer area of the vagina or, if the woman uses cotton, when moisture appears on it and reaches the outside. This blood may also be considered “legal (judgment-based)” blood.(1,2,3) If a woman in a state of purity feels that blood has descended into the vagina but does not see it, menstruation has not started. Blood that is not visible remains in its place, and anything that remains in its place is not considered to have exited until it becomes visible.
Menstruation is also the blood through which a girl reaches puberty. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The prayer of a menstruating woman is not accepted unless she wears a head covering.” (Abu Dawud/641, Ibn Majah/655)
Duration of Menstruation
The minimum duration of menstruation is 3 days and 3 nights(4,5,6,7,8), i.e. 72 hours. The maximum duration is 10 days including nights(9,10,11,12,13), i.e. 240 hours.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The minimum menstruation is three days with their nights, and the maximum is ten days with their nights.” (Daraqutni/845)
Beginning of Menstruation
Menstruation begins when blood exits the vagina.(14,15) The blood that initiates menstruation may be cloudy; it does not have to be bright red.(16)
Menstruation Beginning During Sleep
If a woman is in a state of purity, places cotton or a sanitary pad externally before sleeping, and then sees blood at dawn, she is considered menstruating from the closest possible time as a precaution. The closest time here is immediately after the entry of Fajr time. Therefore, if she did not perform the Isha prayer, she must make it up.(17)
However, if she places cotton, a menstrual cup, or a tampon internally before sleeping and no blood appears externally, menstruation is not considered to have started because no blood was seen.(18)
Purity Periods Within Menstruation
Periods of purity between bleeding days within the menstruation period are also considered part of menstruation.(19,20,21,22) This relates to the concept of “judgment-based” blood mentioned above. If a woman sees blood for one day, then experiences five days of purity, and then sees blood again, all six days are considered menstruation. Continuous bleeding throughout the entire period is not a requirement.
End of Menstruation
Menstruation ends when bleeding stops. This means the cessation of red, brown, or other colored discharge and its transition into clear or chalk-white discharge.(23) All colors other than pure white, such as black, red, yellow, cloudy, green, or earth-colored discharge, are considered menstrual.(24,25)
The female companions would send their menstrual cloths to Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), and she would say: “Do not rush until you see the white discharge.” (Muwatta/1:59)
End of Menstruation During Sleep
If a menstruating woman places a pad, cotton, or tampon before sleeping and sees clear white or transparent discharge at dawn, it means menstruation ended before sleep. If she did not perform the Isha prayer, she must make it up.(26)
Change in Menstruation Duration
According to Imam Abu Yusuf (may Allah have mercy on him), a previously established habit ends when its opposite is observed once.(27,28,29) If bleeding does not exceed 10 days, all days of bleeding are considered menstruation. If the number of bleeding days differs from the previous habit, the new number becomes the new habit.(30) For example, if a woman previously menstruated for 6 days and then sees 7 days of bleeding, her new habit becomes 7 days. If she sees 5 days, her habit becomes 5 days. However, as a precaution, she should not have marital relations until completing 6 days, since her previous habit may still extend to 6 days.
Important Note: We rely on the ruling of Imam Abu Yusuf (may Allah have mercy on him) in this matter due to its ease, and it is commonly adopted by many traditional madrasas and contemporary Sunni scholars.(31,32,33)
Imam Muhammad (may Allah have mercy on him) held a different opinion, stating that a habit only changes when the opposing pattern is seen twice.(34) Imam Sarakhsi also follows this view.(35) Allah knows best.
1, Ahmad Mahmud Unlu, Iman Islam Ilmihali (Istanbul: Tuana Publishing, 2015), 233
2 Ahmad Mahmud Unlu, Risalah on Women’s Conditions (Istanbul: Tuana Publishing, 2015), 7
3 Imam Birgivi, Conditions Specific to Women, trans. Husamettin Vanlioglu et al. (Istanbul: Ismailaga Publishing, 2024), 14
4 Unlu, Iman Islam Ilmihali, 236
5 Unlu, Risalah on Women’s Conditions, 13
6 Birgivi, Women’s Conditions, 19
7 Imam Mawsili, Al-Ikhtiyar, trans. Vanlioglu et al. (Istanbul: Ismailaga Publishing, 2022), 75
8 Imam Sarakhsi, Al-Mabsut, vol. 9 (Istanbul: Gumush Ev Publications, 2018), 232
9 Unlu, Iman Islam Ilmihali, 236
10 Unlu, Risalah on Women’s Conditions, 13
11 Birgivi, Women’s Conditions, 19
12 Mawsili, Al-Ikhtiyar, 75
13 Sarakhsi, Al-Mabsut, 232
14 Mawsili, Al-Ikhtiyar, 77
15 Sarakhsi, Al-Mabsut, 237
16 Mawsili, Al-Ikhtiyar, 76
17 Sarakhsi, Al-Mabsut, 238
18 Birgivi, Women’s Conditions, 25
19 Unlu, Iman Islam Ilmihali, 233
20 Unlu, Risalah on Women’s Conditions, 7
21 Birgivi, Women’s Conditions, 19
22 Mawsili, Al-Ikhtiyar, 76
23 Mawsili, Al-Ikhtiyar, 76
24 Birgivi, Women’s Conditions, 32
25 Sarakhsi, Al-Mabsut, 236
26 Sarakhsi, Al-Mabsut, 238
27 Unlu, Iman Islam Ilmihali, 240
28 Unlu, Risalah on Women’s Conditions, 21
29 Birgivi, Women’s Conditions, 23
30 Birgivi, Women’s Conditions, 39
31 Unlu, Iman Islam Ilmihali, 240
32 Unlu, Risalah on Women’s Conditions, 21
33 Birgivi, Women’s Conditions, 39
34 Unlu, Iman Islam Ilmihali, 240
35 Sarakhsi, Al-Mabsut, 237
