Extract from Badaai al-Sanaai by Allm. Kasani and Tuhfatul Fuqaha by Allm. Ala al-Deen Samarqandi
Haydh
The period of Haydh
Haydh is blood which exits from the uterus for a period of time. There is a difference of opinion amongst the ulama as to what this period is. Imam Malik holds there is no specified period for haydh, neither a minimum nor a maximum. The Ahnaf hold that the minimum period for haydh is three days and its nights whilst the maximum period for haydh is ten days with its nights.
It is narrated that Abu Yusuf is of the opinion that the minimum period for haydh is two days whilst the maximum is three days. Imam Shafi’ee is of the opinion that the minimum period for haydh is one day and one night, whilst its maximum period is fifteen days.
The colour of blood which flows during Haydh
If the blood is coloured black, then there is consensus that this is considered to be haydh. Likewise, the colour red is considered to be haydh according to the Ahnaaf. As for the Shawafi, they hold the opinion that the blood of haydh is black only.
As for that blood which is of a muddy colour, then if it occurs in the final days of haydh, this is considered to be haydh, with no difference of opinion between the Ahnaaf. If however this muddy colour blood flows during the beginning of haydh, then it is also conisdered to be haydh according to Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Muhammad, whereas Imam Abu Yusuf does not consider this to be haydh.
As for that blood which is of a yellowish nature, there is a difference of opinion amongst the ulama. However it is generally considered to be haydh, regardless if it occurs at the beginning or ending of the period of haydh.
As for that blood which is of a greenish colour, some of the scholars have considered it to be the same ruling as blood which is of a muddy colour, however there is a difference of opinion regarding it. Some have said that blood which is muddy, yellowish or greenish in colour is considered to be haydh without exception, other than the case it flows from an old woman. In the case of an old woman, one would need to determine if her period of haydh is near or far away as per her habit. If it is near then this greenish colour would be considered to be haydh, if however her period of haydh is far away and she is not expecting to bleed, then this would not be considered as haydh.
When is Haydh established
Haydh, nifaas and istihaadah are only established when the blood flows from inside the private part of the woman, and becomes visible on the outside. If the blood remains inside the private part then neither haydh, nifaas or istihaadah can be established.
Nifaas
Nifaas is blood which flows after giving birth. There is no minimum period for nifaas such that if a woman saw blood for only a moment and then it stopped, nifaas would be considered to have occurred and she would now be considered pure.
According to the Ahnaf the maximum period of nifaas is forty days, whereas according to Imam Shafi’ee the maximum period of nifaas is sixty days. Imam Malik is of the opinion that the maximum period of nifaas is seventy days.
Istihaadah
Istihaadah is that which flows less than the minimum days of haydh, and that which exceeds the maximum days of haydh and nifaas.
A mustahaadah (woman in the state of istihaadah) can be categorised into two types. That woman who enters the period of istihaadah for the first time, and that woman who has a habit.
As for the case where a girl reaches the age of puberty and sees blood for the first time, and this blood flows continuously for more than ten days, then the first ten days will be regarded as haydh, and that which flows beyond that will be considered as istihaadah.
As for the woman who has an established habit, then any blood which flows less than ten days will be considered as haydh, and that which flows for more than ten days will be considered as istihaadah.
If a woman’s habit is less than ten days, and blood flows more than her normal habit, such that it is less than ten days altogether, this blood will be considered to be haydh and her habit will be considered to have changed. If however the blood flows more than ten days, then the blood which flowed during her habit will be considered as haydh, and anything more than that will be considered as istihaadah.
Ruling for a woman in the state of istihaadah
A woman who is in the state of istihaadah, then the ruling for her is similar to the ruling for a taahirah (pure person), except that she should do wudhu for the waqt of every salah.
