Book 1: The Book of Purification

Narrated `A'ishah (RAA): Fatima bint Abu Hubaish used to have a prolonged flow of blood (Istihadah) and so Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him)· told her, "If it is the blood of menstruation it will be dark (almost black) and recognizable (by women). If it is that, then leave the prayer. If it is other than that, then make ablution and pray." [Reported by Abu Da'ud and An-Nasa’i. Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim graded it Sahih (sound).]

In the narration of Asma bint ‘Umais, Abu Dawud transmitted, (the Prophet (ﷺ) Peace be upon him said:) "She should sit in a tub, and if she sees yellowness appearing (on top of the water) she should wash (three times), once for the Dhuhr and Asr prayers, and once for the Maghrib and Isha prayers, and once for the Fajr prayer, and she should then perform ablution in between those times."

Narrated Hamnah bint Jahsh: 'I had a very strong prolonged flow of blood. I went to the Prophet (Peace be upon him) to ask him about it. He said, "This is a strike from Satan. So observe your menses for six or seven days, then perform Ghusl until you see that you are clean. Pray for twenty-four or twenty-three nights and days and fast, and that will suffice you. Do so every month just as the other women menstruate (and are purified). But if you are strong enough to delay the Dhuhr prayer and advance the Asr prayer, then make Ghusl when your purified and combine the Dhuhr and the Asr prayers together; then delay the Maghrib prayer and advance the Isha prayer, and perform Ghusl and combine the two prayers, do so. Do so, and then wash at dawn and pray Fajr. This is how you may pray and fast if you have the ability to do so." And he said, "That is the more preferable way to me." [Reported by the five imams except An- Nasa’i, At-Tirmidhi graded it Sahih (sound)]

Narrated `A'ishah (RAA): Umm Habiba bint Jahsh complained to Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) about a prolonged flow of blood. He said to her, "Keep away (from prayer) as long as your normal period used to prevent you (from praying), and afterwards she should perform Ghusl (and pray)". (She used to take a bath for every prayer). [Reported by Muslim.]

In another version by Al-Bukhari, he (ﷺ) said: "And perform ablution for every Salat (prayer)". Abu Dawud and others transmitted a similar narration.

Narrated Umm `Atiyah (RAA): After we were pure, we did not consider the yellow or muddy discharge to be anything (i.e. of the menses blood) [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Abu Dawud and the wording is of Abu Dawud].

Narrated Anas (RAA): The Jews used not to eat with a woman during her menstruation period, so the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, "Do every thing else apart from sexual intercourse (with your wives)". [Reported by Muslim.]

Narrated `A'ishah (RAA): When I was menstruating, the Prophet (ﷺ) saws would order me to wrap myself up (with an Izar, which is a dress worn below the waist) and would start fondling me. Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Narrated Ibn `Abbas (RAA): Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said regarding a husband who has sexual intercourse with his wife during her menstruation period, "He must pay a Dinar or half a Dinar in way of charity.” [Reported by the five Imams. Al-Hakim and Ibn Al-Qattan graded it Sahih (sound).]

Narrated Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (RAA): Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) said, "Is it not the case that when a woman menstruates, she neither prays nor fasts?"[12] [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. It is part of a long Hadith]

Narrated `A'ishah (RAA): When we came to a place called Sarif, I menstruated and the Prophet (Peace be upon him) told me, "You should perform all that a pilgrim would do, except circumambulation until you are pure (i.e. performed Ghusl)." [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim and it is part of a long Hadith.]

Narrated Mu'adh Ibn Jabal (RAA): He asked the Prophet (Peace be upon him), “What is lawful for a man regarding his wife when she is menstruating?" and he replied, "What is above the waist wrapper (Izar).”[13] [Reported by Abu Da'ud and graded it Da'if.]

Narrated Umm Salamah (RAA): During the lifetime of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) the women having bleeding after delivery (postnatal or puerperal blood) would refrain (from prayer) for forty days. [Reported by Al-Khamsa except An-Nasa’i, and the version is that of Abu Da’ud].

In another version of Abu Da’ud: "The Prophet (Peace be upon him) did not command her to repeat the prayers (missed during the period of bleeding)."