Three Types of Blood

Three Types of Blood

There are three types of blood that a woman should be familiar with to apply the correct rulings.

1.     MENSES- HAID

·         In the Arabic language, the word Menses means: the pouring and flowing of

            something.

·         According to its Islamic meaning, it is the blood that the female naturally

            releases without an outside cause and during certain specific times. It is, therefore, a natural blood flow that is not related to disease, wound, abortion or delivery. The characteristics of its flow clearly differ amongst women depending upon their overall condition, environment and immediate surroundings.

Description of Blood Flow: Thick, red/black, may have odor

2.     ISTIHADAH

·         Is the vaginal bleeding of a woman such that it may not stop or it may

stop but for a short period of time (a day or two in each month).

1.      Bleeding that does not stop:

'Aisha (radiyallaahu 'anha) related that: "Fatimah bint Abi Hubaish said to the Prophet (saas): "I do not become clean (i.e., bleeding is not ending) and in one narration "I got persistent bleeding (in between theperiods) and I do not become clean."

2.       Bleeding that stops for a short period of time:

 Humnah bint Jahsh came to the Prophet (saas) and said: "My menstruation was great in quantity and severe."

~ Related by Ahmad, Abu-Dawoud, and At-Tirmidhi who said it is Saheeh (correct Hadeeth) It is also related that Imam Ahmad considered the Hadeeth to be Saheeh and that Imam Al-Bukhari is reported to have said it is good Hadeeth.

Description of Blood Flow: light red, thin, no odor, similar to blood of an open wound

 

3.      NIFASS

 Is the bleeding due to delivery by a pregnant woman. It may occur with

delivery, after delivery (post-natal) or before delivery (by two or three days coupled to contractions).

Description of Blood Flow: Similar to menses blood thick, red/black, clumpy, may have odor no more than 40 days in duration

Some content are Excerpts from the Natural Blood of Women By Shaykh Muhammad bin Saleh Al Uthimeen

Akham of Haid: Ruling of Menses and Intimate Matters

Rulings on Menstruation

The subject of menses is very important for every Muslimah to know and implement 

It is understood that both women and men are equal in seeking knowledge of the deen and in matters concerning them. Even the women during the time of the Prophet (saas) the women ask for a day from the Messeger of Allah(saas) so they could learn their deen correctly.

 Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:

Some women requested the Prophet to fix a day for them as the men were taking all his time. On that he promised them one day for religious lessons and commandments. Once during such a lesson the Prophet said, "A woman whose three children die will be shielded by them from the Hell fire." On that a woman asked, "If only two die?" He replied, "Even two (will shield her from the Hell-fire)."

~ Al Bukhari  Volume 1, Book 3, Number 101

It took Imam Ahmed (RA) 9 years to learn and understand the rulings on menstruation so how are we to be relaxed in this matter.

To proceed:

‘A'ishah (radhiallahu anha)  said, “Bless it be the women of the Ansar! Shyness did not prevent them from understanding their religion properly.”
~Reference: Fath al-Bari, 1/228, Kitab al-'ilm, bab al-haya' fi'l-'ilm; Sahih Muslim, 4/16, Kitab al-hayd, bab ghusl al-mustahadah wa salatiha

As soon as the menses cycle is over it wajib to do ghusl and start salat

Evidences from Quran

"If you are sexually impure, purify yourselves." And, "They question you concerning menstruation. Say: It is an illness, so let women alone at such times and do not have sex with them until they are cleansed" 

~(al-Baqarah 222).

Evidences from Hadith

The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said to Fatimah bint Abu Habish, "Do not pray during your period. After it has ended, perform ghusl and pray."

~(Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

How do you know when the menses is over?

Our beloved Ummul Mumineen has given us a detailed description on the ending of menstruation Yahya related to me from Malik from AIqama ibn Abi AIqama that his mother, the mawla of A'isha, umm al-muminin, said, "Women used to send little boxes to A'isha, umm al-muminin, with a piece of cotton cloth in each one on which was yellowness from menstrual blood, asking her about the prayer. She said to them, 'Do not be hasty until you see a white discharge." By that she meant purity from menses.

~Al-Muwatta Hadith   Hadith 2.99