FIQH OF MENSTRUATION (Shafi'i School)

In the Shafi'i school, the rulings on menstruation are based on strict criteria to distinguish between menstrual blood (hayd) and abnormal bleeding (istihadah). These rulings affect prayer, fasting, marital relations, and Quranic recitation.

1. Definition of Menstruation (Hayd)

Menstruation is the natural blood discharged from a woman’s uterus (not caused by injury, illness, or childbirth).

Conditions for blood to be considered Hayd:

1. Minimum Duration: At least 24 hours (even if intermittent).

2. Maximum Duration: No more than 15 days.

3. Purity Between Periods: At least 15 days of purity must pass between two menstrual cycles.

Whenever a woman sees blood that fulfills the above conditions, she must assume that she is in a state of menstruation. Whenever she stops bleeding, she must assume that her menstruation has stopped. In certain cases, she might later discover that her initial assumptions were wrong, in which case she would have to take appropriate corrective measures.

2. How to check for menstruation (Istibra' - Cotton Test)

A woman unsure if bleeding has stopped should:

1. Clean herself from any visible blood.

2. Insert a piece of cotton (or tissue) into the vagina.

3. Wait for some time, then check:

If the cotton is stained (red, black, yellow, brown, or cloudy white) >> Still menstruating.

If the cotton is completely clean (no color) >> Menstruation has ended.

(Note: Yellow / cloudy discharge during usual menstrual days is still considered hayd in the Shafi'i school.)

3. Prohibitions during menstruation

A menstruating woman must avoid:

Praying (Salah) – She does not pray and does not make up missed prayers later.

Fasting (Sawm) – She must make up missed Ramadan fasts later.

Reading or touching Quran – She cannot recite the Quran (except for short verses like "Bismillah" or "Inna Lillahi" for protection).

Sexual intercourse – It is haram for her husband to have intercourse with her until she takes ghusl.

Circumambulating the Kaaba (Tawaf) – She cannot perform tawaf during Hajj or Umrah.

4. When does menstruation end ?

If bleeding stops completely (and cotton test is clean) >> She must perform ghusl (ritual bath).

After ghusl, she resumes all acts of worship (prayer, fasting, etc.).

5. Common scenarios and rulings
Scenario 1:

Bleeding lasts less than 24 hours

Not considered hayd >> It is istihadah (abnormal bleeding).

She must pray, fast, and perform all obligations (but perform wudu for each prayer if bleeding is continuous).

Scenario 2:

Bleeding exceeds 15 days

The first 15 days are considered hayd.

After 15 days, it becomes istihadah >> She must:

Perform ghusl after 15 days.

Pray & fast normally (but do wudu for each prayer due to bleeding).

Scenario 3:

Bleeding stops and restarts within 15 days

If bleeding occurs within 15 days of purity, a woman should:

Continue praying and fasting (if not in her usual menstrual days).

Treat the bleeding as istihadah (irregular bleeding).

She only resumes menstrual rulings if the bleeding occurs after at least 15 days of purity.

6. What if a woman makes a mistake ?

If she thought she was pure (but later realized she was still menstruating):

She must repeat prayers and fasts performed during that time.

If she thought she was menstruating (but later realized she wasn’t):

She must make up missed prayers and fasts.

(Example: If she stopped seeing blood, prayed, but then blood returned within 24 hours >> Her earlier prayers are invalid and must be repeated.)

7. Special cases

A. Yellow / brown discharge

During usual menstrual days >> Considered hayd.

Outside menstrual days >> Not hayd (likely istihadah).

B. Continuous bleeding (Istihadah)

If a woman bleeds beyond 15 days or irregularly, she follows special rules:

She estimates her usual menstrual cycle ('adah).

Bleeding during those days is hayd, the rest is istihadah.

She must do wudu' for each prayer if bleeding is continuous.

8. Key principle: Act upon what you see

No assumptions based on past cycles

Every new bleeding must be checked against the 3 conditions (24h min, 15d max, 15d purity gap).

If unsure >> Use the cotton test.

Conclusion

The Shafi'i rulings on menstruation are strict but clear:

1. Check bleeding duration & color.

2. Stop prayers & fasting during hayd.

3. Perform ghusl when bleeding fully stops.

4. Make up missed fasts (not prayers).

5. If confused, consult a scholar.

وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ

(And Allah knows best.)

(Sources: Reliance of the Traveller, Mughni al-Muhtaj, Fath al-Wahhab)