Haidh or the Monthly Menses

We enlist a few important rules about the monthly menstruation experienced by females. Sadly, most of our sisters are not fully acquainted with the relevant haidh laws. It is fardh upon them to learn at least the basic rules of haidh.

1. Firstly, it is wajib (compulsory) upon a woman to keep a written record and track of her monthly periods. Failing to do so results in many complications, and makes it difficult for the Mufti to provide her with clear answers to her problems.

2. It is makrooh for a woman to use a tampon during haidh, since the Jurists have prohibited the insertion of anything into the vagina. (Ibni Aabideen). She should rather use the normal pad.

3. It is mustahab (meritorious) to apply perfume or any pleasant smelling substance to the pad, so as to neutralise the strong odour of the menses.

4. If the haidh began while performing a faradh salah, the salah will break, but she does not need to offer the qadha for that salah.

5. If haidh began during a sunnat or nafl salah then she should make the qadha of that sunnat or nafl after becoming clean.

6. If haidh began after half a day of fasting had passed, be it fardh, sunnat, or nafl fast, then the fast breaks and she must observe the qadhaa when she becomes paak (clean).

7. If the haidh began right at the very end of the salah time, and she had not yet offered her salah, then that salah is also waived. She does not need to perform its qadha.

8. The maximum number of days for haidh is 10. Any flow above this will not be considered as haidh, but istihaaza. The minimum number of days for haidh is 3, and any flow that lasts for less than three days is also istihaaza, not haidh.

9. During the state of haidh sexual relations with the husband is not permissible. However. If the wife’s haidh ended after exactly 10 days, then sexual relations with the husband will be permitted even before she had taken a bath.
If, however, the haidh ended any time before 10 days, then until the wife takes a ghusl (bath), sexual relations with the husband will not be permissible.