BY: Kafayat Oyewo-Oyelere

Purity (Taharah) is the foundation of worship in Islam. Without it, acts such as Salah (prayer), fasting, or recitation of the Qur’an cannot be valid. For women, understanding the rulings related to menstruation (Hayd), post-natal bleeding (Nifas), and ritual bathing (Ghusl) is essential, not just for personal worship but also for spiritual peace and confidence in faith.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Purity is half of faith.”
Sahih Muslim

1. Menstruation (Hayd) What is Menstruation?

Menstruation is the natural monthly discharge of blood from the womb of a woman who has reached puberty. It is a sign of maturity, not impurity or sin.

🕳 Duration

Minimum duration: 1 day and night (according to many scholars)

Maximum duration: 15 days

Usual duration: 6–7 days

If bleeding exceeds 15 days, it becomes Istihadah (irregular bleeding) and follows different rules.

🕳 Worship During Menstruation

During menstruation, a woman does not:

Pray
Fast
Perform Tawaf around the Ka‘bah
Engage in sexual intercourse

However, she can:

Make dhikr and du‘ā

Listen to or reflect on Qur’an (without reciting directly from the Mushaf)

Seek knowledge and do good deeds

After menstruation ends, she must perform Ghusl before resuming acts of worship.

2. Post-Natal Bleeding (Nifas)

🕳 Definition

Nifas is the bleeding that occurs after childbirth, regardless of whether the baby survives or not.

🕳Duration

Maximum: 40 days

Minimum: There is no fixed minimum; it ends whenever the bleeding stops.

When the blood stops before 40 days, the woman must perform Ghusl and can resume prayer and fasting.

🕳Acts Restricted During Nifas

Same as during menstruation, prayer, fasting, and sexual intercourse are prohibited until purification.

If bleeding continues beyond 40 days, it is treated as Istihadah, and the woman should perform ablution and continue worship.

3. Irregular Bleeding (Istihadah)
   What is Istihadah?

This refers to non-menstrual bleeding, often caused by illness or hormonal imbalance.

It does not prevent worship.
A woman experiencing Istihadah should:

Perform ablution (wudu) for each prayer time

Keep praying, fasting, and engaging in acts of worship

Use protection (like cloth or pad) for cleanliness

The Prophet ﷺ told Fatimah bint Abi Hubaysh (RA):

“This is from a vein, not menstruation. So when your regular menstruation comes, stop praying, and when it goes, wash and pray.”
Sahih al-Bukhari

4. Ghusl (Major Ritual Bath) When Ghusl Becomes Obligatory

A Muslim woman must perform Ghusl in the following cases:

1. After menstruation ends
2. After post-natal bleeding ends
3. After sexual intercourse (even without ejaculation) Steps of Ghusl Intention and Bismillah : Make the intention to perform ghusl for purification in the name of Allah. Say “Bismillah”. Wash hands and private parts : Wash your hands three times, then wash your private parts to clean any impurities. Wash your hands again after touching your private parts. Perform wudu : Complete a full ablution (wudu) as you would for prayer. You can wash your feet or wait until the end of ghusl. Wash head : Pour water over your head three times, making sure to rub your scalp to ensure the water reaches the roots of your hair. Wash the rest of the body : Pour water over your entire body, starting with the right side and then the left. Use your hands to rub the body and ensure water reaches all areas, including under the arms and behind the ears. Wash feet : If you delayed washing your feet in the wudu step, wash them, starting with the right foot and then the left.

The Prophet ﷺ’s wife, Maymunah (RA), described his Ghusl:

“He washed his hands, poured water over his left hand to wash his private part, then performed wudu, and washed his head and the rest of his body.”
Sahih al-Bukhari

5. Practical Guidance for Muslim Women

Keep track of your menstrual cycle to differentiate between Hayd, Nifas, and Istihadah.

Resume prayer and fasting only after bleeding completely stops and Ghusl is performed.

Don’t isolate yourself during menstruation, Islam only prohibits prayer and intimacy, not interaction, learning, or spiritual reflection.

Parents and teachers should educate girls early with kindness and dignity.

✅ 6. The Wisdom Behind These Rulings

Physical Rest: Allah grants women a break from acts of worship during menstruation as a mercy, not a punishment.

Spiritual Awareness: Knowing when to purify helps women remain conscious of their faith.

Hygiene and Health: Ghusl ensures cleanliness and prevents infection.

Balance: Islam recognizes natural processes without shame or taboo

Conclusion

Menstruation and post-natal bleeding are natural signs of Allah’s creation, not impurity or exclusion. Islam dignifies women by teaching them how to manage these phases with purity, understanding, and peace.

When a woman observes these rulings with knowledge, she turns every stage of her life m, even her rest into an act of obedience.

“…Indeed, Allah loves those who constantly repent and those who purify themselves.”
Qur’an 2:222