1. The minimum duration of menstruation is 1 day, and the maximum duration of it is 15 days. If blood flows for more than 15 days, the blood flowing after the 15th day is considered istihada (non-menstrual bleeding; bleeding other than menstrual and postnatal bleeding).

2. The minimum duration of purity between two periods is 15 days. If a woman starts to bleed again before 15 days have passed, it will not be considered menstruation, but istihada.

3. The blood that is discharged from the vagina of a girl who is under the age of 9 and from a woman on menopause [who is over the age of 60] is not considered menstruation, but istihada.

4. The maximum duration of nifas (postnatal bleeding) is 60 days. There is not a minimum duration for it. The blood discharged from a pregnant woman is considered to be menstrual blood.

5. If postnatal bleeding is interspersed by periods of purity that last for less than 15 days, they are considered nifas. If it is interspersed by a period of purity that lasts for 15 days or more, it means that postnatal bleeding has come to an end, so it is not necessary to wait 60 days to elapse. If bleeding restarts after 15 or more days have passed, it is not considered to be postnatal bleeding, but menstrual bleeding.

6. When menstrual or postnatal bleeding stops, it is haram to engage in sexual intercourse before the woman concerned takes a ghusl. [It is permissible according to the Hanafi Madhhab.]

7. It is not permissible for a husband to touch his wife's bare skin that is between her knees and navel when she is menstruating or experiencing postnatal bleeding.