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Menstruation During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding →
← Ruling on Blood Seen Before 9 and After 60 of Age
Minimum and Maximum Duration of Menstrual Blood
Faṭimah: How many days should the blood continue to discharge in order for it to be considered menstrual (Ḥayḍ) blood?
Mother: It must discharge for at least three consecutive days.[1]
Faṭimah: For example, if a woman sees blood for two and a half days, then it completely stops for three or four hours, and then she sees blood again for two more days, what is the ruling?
Mother: Even though this woman saw blood for a total of five days, because she did not experience continuous bleeding for three consecutive days, all the blood is considered Istiḥāḍah (irregular non-menstrual bleeding).
Faṭimah: What if the duration of menstrual blood extends?
Mother: The maximum duration of menstruation is ten days. If the bleeding extends beyond ten days, it is no longer considered menstruation but Istiḥāḍah.
Faṭimah: So, I come to understand that the duration of menstruation is a minimum of three days and a maximum of ten days.
Mother: Yes, that's correct.
Mother: It must discharge for at least three consecutive days.[1]
Faṭimah: For example, if a woman sees blood for two and a half days, then it completely stops for three or four hours, and then she sees blood again for two more days, what is the ruling?
Mother: Even though this woman saw blood for a total of five days, because she did not experience continuous bleeding for three consecutive days, all the blood is considered Istiḥāḍah (irregular non-menstrual bleeding).
Faṭimah: What if the duration of menstrual blood extends?
Mother: The maximum duration of menstruation is ten days. If the bleeding extends beyond ten days, it is no longer considered menstruation but Istiḥāḍah.
Faṭimah: So, I come to understand that the duration of menstruation is a minimum of three days and a maximum of ten days.
Mother: Yes, that's correct.
[1] At the start of menstruation, the blood must flow out, but it is not necessary for blood to be present all three days. If the blood remains internally, it is sufficient. If there is a brief pause in bleeding during the three days, which is considered normal among women (for example, if the bleeding stops for 15 minutes or half an hour and then resumes), it is still considered menstruation.
