Q & A on menstruation and post-partum bleeding –I

Using pills that prevent menstruation

Question:There are pills that prevent menses or delay their
occurrence. Is it allowed for a woman to use such pills during the
time of Hajj )pilgrimage to Makkah( only out of fear of her menses
arriving?
Response:It is allowed for a woman to use pills that prevent her
menses during the time of Hajj out of fear that her menses may come.
But this should only be done after she has consulted with a )health(
specialist who can ensure that her health will be fine. Similarly, she
may do the same during Ramadan if she desires to fast with the
people.)1(
The Standing Committee
Footnotes
)1( There seems to be no need for women to go to such lengths. This
could probably be considered a kind of overzealousness. There is no
real certainty as to the health risks of such pills as well as birth
control pills. Furthermore, the menses are a natural matter that
Allaah has ordained for women and there is no need to flee from them.
Hence, it must be considered best for women to abstain from such pills
since there is no necessity for them and they )women( cannot be
certain of their side effects. Allaah knows best
Discontinuation of bleeding during menses
Question:Sometimes, during my menses, I have blood for four days and
then the bleeding stops for three days. Then, on the seventh day the
bleeding returns, but with less intensity. Then, the bleeding turns to
a brown colour until the twelfth day. I hope you will guide me to what
is correct in this matter.
Response:The days that you mentioned, the four and the six day periods
)i.e., the first to the fourth day, and then the seventh to twelfth
day(, are days of menstruation. You should not pray or fast during
those days. It is not allowed for your husband to have sexual
intercourse with you during those days either. You should make Ghusl
)ritual bathing( after the first four days and then pray, and your
husband may have intercourse with you during the period between the
fourth and the sixth days. Also, there is no prohibition upon your
fasting during these days.
If that occurs during Ramadan, it is obligatory upon you to fast on
the days that you are not on your menses. When you become pure after
the second six days )i.e., the seventh to twelfth days(, you must make
Ghusl, pray and fast like any other time of purity. This is because
the monthly menses can increase or decrease. Its days are sometimes
together and sometimes separated. May Allaah guide us all to what
pleases Him. May He provide us, you and all the Muslims with
understanding and steadfastness in the religion.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz
Footnotes
)1(In response to this question, the Shaykh has basically given the
Hanbali view of the question. There are some other views which may be
more significant that state the entire period is that of menstruation
)i.e., the full 12 days in this case(. Allaah knows best
Drops of blood after making Ghusl
Question:I notice that sometimes after making the Ghusl that follows
my monthly menses, after having had my period for the normal five
days, I have a very small number of drops )of blood( emerging. This
occurs immediately after I make Ghusl. After that, nothing else
emerges. I do not know what to do. Should I follow my normal five-day
period and simply ignore what occurs after that and continue to pray
and fast? Or should I consider that day also as part of my period and
not pray or fast during it? Note that such a thing does not always
occur to me, but only occurs every two or three monthly cycles. I hope
you will benefit me on this matter.
Response:If what emerges after your washing is either yellow or brown,
then it is not to be taken into consideration )as menses( and it takes
the same ruling as urine.)1(
However, if it is clearly blood, it will then be considered part of
the menses and you must repeat the Ghusl due to what is confirmed from
Umm 'Atiyyahwho was a female companion of the Messenger of Allaahwho
stated: "We would not consider yellowish or brownish discharge as
anything)2(after we had been purified ]from menses[.")3(
Shaykh Ibn Baaz
Footnotes
1. Meaning, it must be washed off the clothing and the person must
make ablution from such a discharge.
2. That is: "We would not consider it as menses."
3. Recorded by Al-Bukhaari
If a woman ends her menses before sunset, she must perform the Thuhr
and 'Asr Prayers
Question:When a menstruating woman becomes pure before sunrise, is it
obligatory upon her to perform the Maghrib and 'Ishaa' prayers?
Similarly, if she becomes pure before sunset, is it obligatory upon
her to perform the Thuhr and 'Asr prayers?
Response:If a menstruating or post-partum bleeding woman becomes pure
before sunset, it is obligatory upon her to perform both the Thuhr and
'Asr prayers, according to the strongest opinion among the scholars.
Similar is the case if she becomes pure before dawn. In that case, she
must perform the Maghrib and 'Ishaa' prayers. This has been narrated
from Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn 'Awf and 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Abbaas. This is the
opinion of the majority of the scholars. Similarly, if a menstruating
or post-partum bleeding woman becomes pure before sunrise, it is
obligatory upon her to perform the Fajr )dawn( prayer. And from Allaah
is guidance.
Shaykh Ibn Baaz
The menstruating woman keeping herself clean from urine
Question:When I am menstruating, I do not clean myself of urine with
water because I fear that the water may harm me. What is the ruling
concerning that?
Response:It suffices, in place of water, to clean yourself with clean
tissue paper or any other pure solid object that will remove the
impure substance, such as a large stone, a piece of wood, or similar
objects. This wiping should be done three times or more, until the
impure substance is removed. This ruling is not just for you or anyone
in a case like yours; rather, it is for all Muslim men and women under
all circumstances. This is based on what has been confirmed from
'Aa'ishahthat the Prophetsaid:"When one of you goes to relieve
himself, he should clean himself with three stones, and that will be
sufficient for him."]Ahmad & Others[
It is also confirmed from Salmaan Al-Faarisithat it was said to him:
"Your Prophet teaches you everything, even how to go to the lavatory."
Salmaanreplied: "Certainly! He prohibited us from facing the Qiblah
)direction of the Ka'bah( while defecating or urinating, from cleaning
our genitals with our right hand, from cleaning ourselves with less
than three stones and from cleaning ourselves with dung or bone."
]Muslim, Abu Daawood & At-Tirmithi