Q. I am really confused, I was told that the minimum days of menses for a woman is 3 days, now am told it is one day by sisters in our ladies halqa…. Is there a difference? Or just some misunderstanding? Is there proof ?

A. The sister should have asked you as to the school of thought you are utilizing for your everyday rulings, prior to embarking you on the journey of  confusion..

1. According to shawafees:

• The bleeding lasts for at least 24 hours. If the bleeding is not continues and remains sporadic, the sum of all discontinuous bleeding periods must add up to at least a full day and night (24 hours)

• The time period of menstruation must never exceed 15 days, irregular or continuous

• There must exist a period of 15 days of purity between two periods of her menstruation

• If the above conditions are fulfilled, a woman would be said to be part of her menstrual cycle and the necessary rules that pertain to it would also apply to her

2. According to Ahnaf:

• Minimum amount of days for haiz is 3 days

• Maximum amount days for your haiz would not exceed10 full days

• Bleeding which was experienced does not need be continuous but will be counted

• Bleeding which occurs after the full 10th day is called istihaza.

• The minimum period of purity between ones cycle is 15 days

Yes proof does exist. Proof is derived from the ahadeeth. The Fuqaha have accepted the above. Should you be a muhadith (scholar of hadtih) and have devised a better method, do share its content. Suffice to say, if you have chosen the method of Ahnaf or Shawafee, then you must chose all their other rulings as well with consistency. To deviate from your school, you must prove yourself as an Islamic researcher well versed extensively in Arabic, as well as the quran, Hadeeth, sunnah, etc. The possibility of this is slim during our current era.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.