Know Your Deen

Q. If a woman is always in menses due to health related concerns, we were told that when this happens, she must consider it all as part of haiz. So for 365 days she is menstruating. (questioned from a concerned gynecologist)

A. We appreciate that as a gynecologist you have taken out the added time to learn the finer religious rulings for the spiritual advancement of your patients. May Allah (subhanahu wa ta’aala) reward for this endeavor. Ameen.

The answer you have received is incorrect. Such a ruling are functioning in essence to block a usually healthy relationship from thriving, should your mentioned ruling be accepted. There is also a chance that the above ruling could prompt adultery on the part of a man and function as a point of frustration on the part of woman. The referred ruling is an inhibitor of fairness on the rights of humanity, and lacks astuteness to the finer laws of religion.

Also, in countries like the United States that do not allow a man to have a second, third or fourth wife, more complications arise. The mentioned ruling was given in an Arab country allowing for men to take a second, third or fourth wife. In America and Europe, such options do not exist. Other than the ruling being only of benefit to men, it deprives a woman of her shared intimacy. (This last statement is not promoting or limiting the issue of wives, but a point made towards those who argue that a man can go elsewhere for his pleasure while his wife is undergoing a state of continual menstruation.)

As for the woman, the restricted ruling you are mentioning would not only deprive a woman of shared adult intimacy; spiritually a woman would also atrophy due to the lack of religious duty fulfillment – for in such a state, such a ruling would force a woman to never perform salaah, nor would she be able to read the Qur’an, never go for Hajj herself (unless she was prepared to pay a huge Dumm — penalty for broken laws during hajj), etc. The impact of the above ruling could prove hugely detrimental to the imaan of a healthy woman who may be undergoing health issues.

Thus, our religion being one of logic and common sense, has imparted to us the opinions of jurists who have formulated a simple method for the benefit of our sister undergoing such an ailment:

Should a woman not be mindful her habit prior to her suffering from a 24hr bleeding session, she would be bound to go on a 10/20 ratio. This means, out of 30 days, 10 days/nights would be viewed as her having her menses, and the remainder 20 days would be viewed as istihaza.

In other words, the first 10 days would be like a woman who has a normal cycle. (Psychologically, this also helps her feel like a normal woman, or rather, like a woman without undue complications, which sometimes can help her mental confidence as well.) The remainder 20 days would be viewed as istihaza. Naturally, the laws of istihaza would apply to her when in istihaza, and the laws of menses would apply to her when she is in that given state.

(Note: although it would be ideal for a man not to touch his wife on adult terms, and for a woman to reach such a level of piety that would not demand adult activities, the realities of life would prove otherwise. Thus, research on the issue has resulted in the above response, due to scholars like ourselves taking into account the rights of Allah and rights of humanity.)

Allah certainly knows best.

Q. What is the ruling for a woman who has a menses that occurs twice a month?

A. Scientific data does acknowledge that some woman have a situation that calls for two cycles in a month.

Your calculation method would be simple: remember, 15 days mentioned here is considered the least amount of days between ones menses, and known as point of purity.

Please refer to this article for further clarification, and other questions in this category for more knowledge.

Allah certainly knows best.

Q. My period ended on September 13th. On September 17th, I started a second period. Now I am told that I cannot perform salaah, touch the Qur’an, etc.

A. You have stated that your menses ended on the 13th. The least amount of days pertaining to purity is 15 days. Thus, shari’ah has termed the blood you had seen as istihaza and not haiz (your period.) In the case of istihaza , merely make fresh wudhu prior to each salaah and perform the given salaah. Likewise, you may also recite Qur’an upon removing the impurity from your clothing or physical body.

Allah certainly knows best.

Q. My sister this happened to her. Her period started, then it stopped after 1 day and one night, then it restarted after 3 days. Now is it haiz or is it not haiz and how can we know? How would she know which is which? It is all so confusing…and about salah, what does she do?

A. We intend to make it simple for you. Here is a small chart to make it simple for you, it would allow you to do your own calculation. However, we still suggest that after you do your calculation, you have it approved by another scholar to see if you understand the rules that apply to you:

• Minimum amount of days for haiz is 3 days
• Maximum amount days for your haiz would not exceed10 full days
• Bleeding which was experienced by you does not need to 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

In light of this information, the day it all started remains as part of your menses, the brief interruption of 3 days is also part of your menses. Just because you did not see blood or any sign of it does not mean that you have been freed from it. Hoping it becomes clearer for you: assuming your menses habit was 10 full days, and from the 1st day it all lasted up to the 10th full day and night, then we would say that anything seen after the 10th full day and night, would be viewed as istihaza.

Once you clearly understand the above, you would realize that during istihaza, salaah must be read with fresh wudhu for each salaah performed.

(See other answers on this topic for your clarification.)

Allah certainly knows best.

Q. Can i have adult relations with my wife after she had her monthly thingy (I am sure the brother means menstrual cycle) but before the showering? She is going to have her bath anyway, so does it matter? I am 19 and she is (age with held by our site) and moulana saheb  I really need your answer like quick because I can’t handle this waiting period every month, like her taking a shower and all this menstruating laws stuff. So bring it on with some  benefit on me man, please. (New York)

A. If your wife’s menses ended after the total completion of her tenth full day, then only would you be able to have conjugal relations with her without a bath. However, it would be preferred for a woman to have a bath prior to conjugal relations regardless of how affectionate the couples are with each other.

Take note of the following ayah:

???????????????? ???? ???????????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ??????????? ??? ???????????? ????? ?????????????? ??????? ???????????? ??????? ??????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ????????? ????? ??????? ??????? ?????????????? ????????? ?????????????????

And they ask you (oh Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) ) about menstruation. Say: It is a pollutant; therefore keep away from women during the menstrual discharge and do not go near them until they have become clean; (this means that you can do everything with them, sleep with them, etc. with the exception of taking benefit from them between navel to knee, i.e. conjugal relations) then when they have purified themselves, you may approach them as Allah has commanded you; surely Allah loves those who turn much (to Him), and He loves those who purify themselves.

(2:222)

Allah certainly knows best.