Question 1: If a woman gets into bed at night in a state of purity and finds her underwear blood-stained when she wakes up, when is her menses considered to have started?
ANSWER
Her menses, even if it began at night, is considered to have started at the moment she notices the blood. For example, if she goes to bed without performing Salat al-Isha and wakes up after the sun has risen, she has to, even if her menstruation began at night, make up Salat al-Isha and Salat al-Fajr when she attains purification because her period is considered to have started after sunrise.

Question 2: If a woman gets into bed in a state of menstruation and sees no sign of blood on her pad when she wakes up, when is her menstruation considered to have stopped?
ANSWER
Her menstrual period is considered to have ended when she was asleep. If a woman goes to bed without performing Salat al-Isha and then wakes up within the time for Salat al-Fajr, she has to make up the Salat al-Isha because her menses is considered to have stopped while she was asleep.

Question 3: Is it permissible to take pills to delay menses in order not to miss any fast-days in Ramadan or in order to perform the rites of the hajj in their prescribed times?
ANSWER
It is permissible, but it is not necessary to do so.

Question 4: If a menstruating woman has a wet dream, does she have to take a ghusl (purificatory bath)?
ANSWER
She does not have to take a ghusl, but it is better if she does. She has to take a ghusl again when blood stops flowing.

Question 5: Is a menstruating lady allowed to recite the Qur'anic verse "Laa ilaaha illaa anta subhaanaka innee kuntu minadh dhaalimeen"?
ANSWER
She can recite it with the intention of making remembrance (dhikr).

Question 6: Can a menstruating woman recite Surat al-Ikhlas, Surat al-Falaq, and Surat an-Nas?
ANSWER
No, she cannot.

Question 7: Angels of compassion do not enter a house where there is a junub. Do they not enter a house where there is menstruating woman, either?
ANSWER
They enter a house where there is a menstruating woman, but they do not enter there if she does not take a ghusl when her menses stops.

Question 8: Is it haram to have sexual intercourse with one's wife by using a condom or by wrapping a cloth around one's penis?
ANSWER
Yes, it is haram.

Question 9: Having sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman is haram. If one commits this haram, what will the punishment for it be?
ANSWER
No punishment is imposed according to the Hanafi Madhhab. Such a person has to make repentance and beg Allahu ta'ala for forgiveness.

Question 10: Is it permissible for a woman to make up the salats that she missed because of menstruation and postnatal bleeding?
ANSWER
It is makruh. Wiping the whole head is sunnat when one is performing wudu', but washing the head is makruh. Likewise, it is makruh to make up those salats that a woman misses because of menstruation. (Bahr)

Question 11: If my menses stops just 5 minutes before the time for Salat al-Maghrib arrives and if I fail to take a ghusl and perform Salat al-Asr, do I have to make up the Salat al-Asr?
ANSWER
Yes, it is fard to make it up.

Question 12: Is a menstruating woman allowed to listen to the Qur'an al-karim recited by someone else?
ANSWER
She is allowed to listen to the Qur'an al-karim recited at home. She cannot listen to that which is recited in a mosque because a menstruating woman cannot enter a mosque.

Question 13: If a woman starts menstruating just half an hour before the time for Salat az-Zuhr ends and she did not perform it until then, will she have to make up that salat?
ANSWER
If a woman starts menstruating before the time for a particular salat ends, she does not have to make it up because a salat being fard for one depends on one's being clean at its last minute.

Question 14: I habitually perform Salat ad-Duha [a voluntary salat performed in the mid-morning] because it is stated in a hadith-i sharif, "Whoever continues to perform Salat ad-Duha will die a martyr." I began menstruating yesterday when I was performing Salat ad-Duha. Do I have to make it up when I gain purification?
ANSWER
Salat ad-Duha is a voluntary salat like sunnah salats that are done together with the five daily salats. If a woman begins menstruating when she is performing Salat ad-Duha or a sunnah salat, it is wajib on her to make it up. However, if she begins menstruating when she is performing one of the five daily salats, she does not have to make it up.

Question 15: If a woman's menses comes while observing a voluntary (nafl) fast, does she have to make it up after attaining purification?
ANSWER
Yes, making it up is wajib upon her.

Question 16: If my fast breaks because of something that calls for kaffarah (expiation) and then my menses comes, what am I required to do?
ANSWER
You are required to make up that fast. Kaffarah is not required. (Tahtawi)

Question 17: If a woman starts menstruating when she is fasting in Ramadan, should she eat and drink?
ANSWER
Yes, she has to eat and drink because a woman cannot remain like a fasting person when she is menstruating. Since it is haram to fast during menses, remaining like a fasting person from dawn to dusk is haram, too.

Question 18: My habit for menstruation is 25 days of purity and 5 days of menstruation. I remained free from menstruation for 27 days and then have bled for 12 days this month. Has my habit for menstruation changed?
ANSWER
Because the first 3 of 12 days of bleeding coincide with your previous period, the duration of your period has decreased to 3 days. The remaining 9 days are considered istihada (non-menstrual bleeding).

Question 19: My habit is 25 days of purity and 5 days of menstruation. I remained free from menstruation for 25 days the next time and then bled for 3 days and did not see blood for 1 day and bled for 7 days. Did the length of my period change?
ANSWER
If the bleeding that coincides with the time of a woman's habit lasts for 11 or more days, the days that coincide with her habit are considered menstrual, and the remaining days are considered istihada. Accordingly, the first 5 days [namely, 3 days of bleeding and 1 day of purity and 1 day of bleeding] are considered menstrual period, and the remaining 6 days are considered istihada.

Question 20: Supposing a woman's habit is 5 days of menstruation and 26 days of purity. If she, the next time, bleeds for 5 days and does not see blood for 3 days and bleeds for 4 days, should she refrain from performing salat during the days she sees bleeding?
ANSWER
If the bleeding that coincides with the time of a woman's habit lasts for 11 or more days, only the days that coincide with her habit are considered menstrual, and the remaining days are considered istihada. Accordingly, 5 days of bleeding are considered menstrual period, and the 4 days of bleeding are regarded as istihada.

Question 21: My habit is 8 days of bleeding and 31 days of purity. If I see blood for 13 days as of the 28th day of purity, does my menstrual period change?
ANSWER
Of the 13 days of bleeding, the first 4 days are considered istihada, and the next 8 days are regarded as menstrual bleeding. The remaining 1 day is considered istihada, too.

Question 22: Supposing a woman's habit is 5 days of menstruation and 25 days of purity. If she, the next time, remains free from menstruation for 18 days and then bleeds for 9 days and does not see blood for 1 day and bleeds for 2 days, which days are considered menstrual?
ANSWER
The first 7 days of bleeding, which do not coincide with the time of her habit, are considered istihada. The remaining 2 days of bleeding and 1 day of purity and 2 days of bleeding, that is, 5 days, are regarded as menstrual period.

Question 23: Supposing a woman's habit is 5 days of menstruation and 25 days of purity. If she remains free from menstruation for 20 days and then bleeds for 3 days and does not see blood for 2 days and bleeds for 6 days, which days are considered menstrual?
ANSWER
The first 3 days of bleeding and the next 2 days of purity (5 days), which do not coincide with the time of her habit, are considered istihada. The first 5 of the remaining 6 days of bleeding are considered her menstrual period. Her norm of menstruation has not changed. It is still 5 days.

Question 24: Supposing a woman's habit is 7 days of menstruation and 23 days of purity. If she, after remaining pure for 35 days, bleeds for 2 days and does not see blood for 3 days and bleeds for 6 days, which days are considered menstrual?
ANSWER
The duration of her new menstruation, like that of the previous one, is considered 7 days. The last 4 of 6 days of bleeding are considered istihada. If days of bleeding are interspersed by days of purity that last for less than 10 days, these pure days are considered days of bleeding. Therefore, the first 2 days of bleeding and the next 3 days of purity are considered menstrual. The first 2 of 6 days of bleeding are considered menstrual too, and the remaining 4 days are regarded as istihada.

Question 25: Supposing a woman's habit is 8 days of menstruation and 23 days of purity. If she, after remaining pure for 29 days, bleeds for 4 days and does not see blood for 2 days and bleeds for 6 days and then experiences a valid period of purity, which days are considered to be her menstrual period?
ANSWER
She has experienced istihada (non-menstrual bleeding). Her previous period lasted for 8 days, so the duration of her new period is considered to be 8 days, too. Formerly, she used to bleed from the 24th day to 31st day. But in her new period, only 2 days of bleeding (that is, 30th and 31st days) coincide with her previous period. If 3 days had coincided with it, then the duration of her period would change and be considered to be 3 days now. Because only 2 days of bleeding coincide with her previous period, 8 days, her habit for menstruation, are counted as menstrual period. To that end, the first 4 days of bleeding and the next 2 days of purity and the first 2 of 6 days of bleeding are considered menstrual, and the remaining 4 days are regarded as istihada.

Question 26: The duration of my usual menstrual period was 7 days. It has lengthened to 8 days this month. My purity period has not changed. It is 21 days. Has the duration of my menses changed?
ANSWER
Yes, the duration of your new period has increased to 8 days.

Question 27: My menses usually lasts for 6 days. This month I bled for 6 days, and then bleeding resumed on the 8th day. Afterwards, I remained pure for 25 days. Was the blood that came on the 8th day istihada?
ANSWER
When blood comes on the 8th day, it is considered that the blood flowed on the 7th day, too. Therefore, your menstrual period has lengthened to 8 days.

Question 28: I habitually bleed for 5 days. However, I also bled on the 8th and 9th days this month. I remained pure from menstruation for 23 days as usual. Should I have performed salat on the 6th and 7th days, during which I did not see blood?
ANSWER
The duration of your menses has changed and increased to 9 days. 2 days of purity in between are considered as if the blood flowed during these days as well. However, because it was not possible for you to know that the duration of your period would change, you should have taken a ghusl and performed salat during these 2 days. You do not have to make up the salats that you missed during these days because it has become clear now that these 2 days were menstrual too.

Question 29: My menses lasts for 7 days, but this month blood flowed after the 7th day and continued to flow until 10 days are over. In such a case, can I take a ghusl at the completion of day 7 and resume salat?
ANSWER
If blood had flowed for 11 days, you would have been considered pure after day 7. If it has flowed for the full 10 days, all 10 days are counted as menstrual period. You can take a ghusl after you complete 10 days and resume salat. You are not considered to have attained purification before 10 days are over. Your menstrual period has lengthened to 10 days.

Question 30: I habitually have menses for 5 days. If I, the next time, bleed for 3 days and do not see blood for 1 day and bleed for 8 days, will my menstrual period be considered to have changed?
ANSWER
The days that coincide with your usual menstrual period are considered menstrual, and the rest are considered istihada. Accordingly, the first 5 days (namely, 3 days of bleeding and 1 day of purity and the 1st day of 8 days of bleeding) are considered your menstrual period, and the remaining 7 days are regarded as istihada.

Question 31: I habitually bleed for 8 days and remain pure for 31 days. If I, the next time, see blood for 11 days as of the 28th day, will my menstrual period be considered to have changed?
ANSWER
Of the 11 days of bleeding, the first 4 days (28th, 29th, 30th, 31st days) are considered istihada. The next 7 days (32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th, 36th, 37th, 38th days), which coincide with your previous period, are regarded as your menstrual period. The number of your new period is considered to be 7 days, and the number of your purity period does not change.

Question 32: Supposing a woman's habit is 5 days of menstruation and 25 days of purity. If she, after remaining pure for 18 days, bleeds for 9 days and does not see blood for 1 day and bleeds for 2 days, which days are considered menstrual?
ANSWER
The first 7 days of bleeding, which do not coincide with her previous period, are regarded as istihada. The remaining 2 days of bleeding and 1 day of purity and 2 days of bleeding, that is, 5 days, are considered menstrual as they coincide with her habit.

Question 33: Supposing a woman's habit is 5 days of menstruation and 25 days of purity. If she, after remaining pure for 20 days, bleeds for 3 days and does not see blood for 2 days and bleeds for 5 days, which days are considered menstrual?
ANSWER
There is a change in the length of her menstrual period. It has increased to 10 days.

Question 34: Is it permissible for a menstruating woman to hold a book that teaches Qur'anic letters and basic Qur'an reading?
ANSWER
It is permissible, but she cannot touch Qur'anic verses in it with her fingers. It is permissible for her to hold a book of fiqh, too.

Question 35: When a menstruating woman attains purification, can she perform tawaf (circumambulation around the Ka'ba) in any month during her lifetime?
ANSWER
Yes, she can. But she should not delay it.

Question 36: Is a menstruating woman allowed to perform sa'y (walking between Safa and Marwa during hajj)?
ANSWER
Yes, she is.

Question 37: The basement of our apartment house is used as a prayer room. Engagement and wedding ceremonies are also held there. Is it permissible for a menstruating woman to enter it?
ANSWER
Yes, it is.

Question 38: If a woman starts menstruating soon after she has started offering a voluntary salat or a voluntary fast, will she have to make up this salat or fast, which has been invalidated because of something that happens beyond one's will, when she gains purification?
ANSWER
Yes, she will. It is wajib upon her to make up that voluntary fast or salat. If she starts menstruating after making intention for a fard fast, she will have to make up this fast. But if she starts menstruating after making intention for a fard salat, she does not have to make up this salat because a menstruating woman is absolved from the obligation of performing salat. (Radd-ul-mukhtar)

Question 39: Is the blood coming from the vagina of a pregnant lady considered to be menstrual blood?
ANSWER
It is considered istihada according to the Hanafi Madhhab. Such a lady can perform salat and fast. However, according to the Maliki Madhhab, the blood discharged from a pregnant lady or before delivery is considered to be menstrual blood. A pregnant Hanafi woman who imitates the Maliki Madhhab can fast during these days, but she cannot perform salat. She has to make up later the salats that she missed during these days.

Question 40: When my menstrual blood stops flowing, I am perplexed by the discharge released following the end of my period. I find it difficult to determine whether it is menstrual discharge or chronic vaginal discharge. Do I incur a sin if I do not perform salat thinking that it is menstrual discharge or if I perform salat thinking that it is chronic vaginal discharge?
ANSWER
It is not a sin because you do not do it deliberately.

Question 41: My habit is 23 days of purity and 5 days of menstruation. I also bled on the 7th and 13th days this month. What should I do?
ANSWER
The blood that flowed on the 7th and 13th days are considered istihada because bleeding exceeded 10 days. If you did not perform salat on the 7th day thinking that that bleeding was menstrual bleeding, you have to make up those missed salats.

A woman who has undergone hysterectomy
Question 42: Does a woman who has undergone the surgical removal of her uterus experience menstrual bleeding?
ANSWER
No, she does not. Gynecologists say that a woman will not have menstrual bleeding if she has undergone a total hysterectomy. If she has bleeding despite this, it is because of something else.