Pregnancy and Menstrual Blood
Question: Is the Pregnancy and Menstrual Blood that occurs three to four days before a woman’s expected period purity or impurity, and can she pray during this time?
Answer: When a woman knows her monthly cycle in terms of days, color, or timing, she should skip prayer during these days. After purification, she should perform a ghusl and pray. Bleeding before menstruation is considered impurity, and it doesn’t exempt a woman from prayer and fasting. She should clean herself promptly, seek protection, and perform ablution before each prayer, even if it’s not continuous. If she misses prayers due to this blood, she should make them up without undue hardship.
Continuous Speech by a Patient
Question: A nine-month pregnant woman experiences persistent speech sickness, ceasing her prayers for a month. Is this permissible?
Answer: Women, including the one mentioned, should continue praying despite this illness. They must perform ablution during each prayer and try to minimize any issues, even using cotton. They can also combine Dhuhr & Asr and Maghrib & Isha prayers. Allah advises: “Fear Allah to the best of your ability.”
Such a woman must make up for missed prayers, repent for past neglect, and resolve not to repeat this negligence. Allah says: “O you who believe! Fear Allah as much as you can, so that you may prosper.”
Reading Tafsir During Menstruation
Question: Can a menstruating woman read Tafsir books even though she’s impure?
Answer: Reading Tafsir books is permitted for menstruating and postpartum women. Similarly, they can recite the Quran without touching it, as per the majority opinion of scholars. However, those in the state of Janabat (a major impurity) cannot recite the Quran until they perform ablution. They can study Tafsir and Hadith books, but reciting Quranic verses in the context of change is restricted. Alim narrated that conditions other than Janabat did not prevent the Prophet from reciting the Quran.
Reading the Quran and Prayer Books
Question: Can a menstruating woman read books containing prayers, including Quranic verses, on the Day of Arafah?
Answer: It is permissible for menstruating and postpartum women to read books containing supplications during Hajj. They can recite the Quran without touching it, as there is no clear evidence forbidding such women from reciting the Quran. While a weak Hadith suggests that menstruating women should not read anything from the Quran, it is permissible for them to recite it orally. The difference lies in the short duration of Janabat, which allows quick purification. On the other hand, the lengthy periods of menses and nifas necessitate Quran recitation to prevent forgetfulness and loss of rewards.
Exploring Pregnancy and Menstrual Blood
Question: If a woman over fifty experiences irregular bleeding lasting from days to months, is this considered menstrual blood? Can she pray and fast during this time?
Answer: Irregular bleeding, often associated with age, is not menstrual blood according to Islamic jurisprudence. When a woman reaches fifty or her monthly cycle becomes irregular, menstruation and pregnancy cease. This aligns with Hazrat Aisha’s teachings. Such blood falls under the category of Istihaza and does not impede prayer, fasting, or marital relations. However, ablution before each prayer is essential, and managing the bleeding with cotton or similar methods is advised, following the guidance of Prophet Muhammad for mustahadah women.
Guidelines for Pregnant Women
Question: What are the religious obligations for pregnant women regarding prayer and fasting when they achieve purity before the forty-day post-birth period?
Answer: Pregnant women achieving purity before forty days must immediately resume obligatory prayers, fasting during Ramadan, and become lawful for their husbands. If bleeding recurs within forty days, they should temporarily suspend prayer and fasting, a rule also applies to marital relations. These women fall under the Nifas category until either completing forty days or attaining purity before that. Upon regaining purity, they can perform Ghusl, resume regular prayer and fasting, and become lawful for their husbands. If bleeding persists beyond forty days, it’s considered irregular, permitting prayer and fasting without restrictions, similar to mustahadah women.
Understanding the Order of Blood
Question: In the case of a woman’s pregnancy resulting in miscarriage, what is the ruling for her regarding prayer? Does it change based on the condition of the miscarriage?
Answer: When a woman miscarries, and clear signs of fetal development are evident, she falls under the category of Nifas. During this period, she cannot pray, fast, or engage in marital relations until she achieves purity or completes the maximum forty-day period. If she attains purity earlier, she must perform Ghusl and subsequently pray and fast during Ramadan, allowing her husband to resume marital relations. The duration of Nifas has no specific minimum or maximum, but a woman must make an effort to stop the bleeding. Upon reaching purity, she can pray, fast, and become lawful for her husband. If bleeding continues beyond forty days and coincides with menstrual blood, it’s considered menstrual, and restrictions apply until purity is achieved.
Navigating Intercourse During Nifas
Question: Can a husband engage in sexual intercourse with his wife before forty days post-childbirth? What if intercourse occurs before completing the full forty days or after thirty-five days?
Answer: Sexual intercourse with one’s wife during the Nifas period (postpartum bleeding) is not permissible. If a woman attains purity even one day before the forty-day period ends, engaging in intercourse is considered disliked but not sinful. The condition is that the wife achieves a level of purity where prayer and fasting become obligatory. In such a case, there is no sin associated with marital relations. Allah’s mercy allows for some flexibility in these matters. If a person manages to perform even one rak’ah of the Asr prayer before sunset, they have indeed performed the Asr prayer.
This comprehensive guide aims to provide clarity on various aspects of menstruation and its associated religious duties. It serves as a valuable resource for Muslim women navigating these rules in their daily lives.
More Fact: Prayer After Miscarriage