Fundamentals of Purity and Prayer

Fundamentals of Purity and Prayer Lecture 7 – Women’s Purity March 9, 2014

Hayd, Nifas, Istihada Women’s Purity

Hayd • Menstruation (hayd) – blood that exits from uterus of woman after the age of adolescence • Woman is free from pregnancy or a disease which would cause bleeding • Minimum duration is 3 days (72 hours) • Maximum duration is 10 days (240 hours) • Adolescence – post-puberty (9 lunar years) • Menstruation typically stops after menopause (around 55 lunar years) • Bleeding does not have to be continuous • Any break within maximum 10 days would still be considered menstruation, along with any bleeding or color

Hayd • Should record menstrual habits to determine typical menstrual period • Tuhr – period of purity between two menstrual cycles • Minimum duration is 15 days (360 hours) • No maximum, except to establish standard menstrual habit in situation of continuous bleeding • Any bleeding which occurs beyond the normal menstrual habit, but within the maximum 10 days, will be considered menstruation • This period of days will be considered the new menstrual habit

Nifas • Nifas – postnatal bleeding • The blood that exits after delivery, or after most of the baby has exited • “most” referring to the chest if comes out head first, or navel if feet first • Even after miscarriage of a fetus that had physical development • Has no minimum duration • Maximum duration is 40 days (960 hours)

Restrictions During Hayd and Nifas • The following things are unlawful during menstruation or postnatal bleeding • Prayer • Fasting • Intercourse • Tawaf • Entering masjid • Being touched beneath navel to the knees • Without cloth or barrier • Reciting Qur’an • Touching copy of Qur’an • Fasts of Ramadan must be made up • As opposed to any prayers

Istihada • Any bleeding beyond the maximum 10 days of menstruation, or below the minimum 3 days, is considered istihada (irregular bleeding) • Any bleeding of a pregnant woman, even during delivery, before most of the baby has exited • Any bleeding after delivery beyond the maximum 40 days • Any bleeding of a girl that not yet reached adolescence • Istihada does not prevent fasting, praying, intercourse, etc. • Ruling is like that of the person with a chronic excuse • If bleeding continues for duration of entire prayer time, must perform wudu at beginning of each prayer time

Questions?

Fundamentals of Purity and Prayer