Menstruation (ḥayḍ) in Islam has specific criteria: blood from the uterus exiting the vagina of females 9+ lunar years old, excluding illness, injury, pregnancy, or postpartum blood.
Reviewed by Ustad Abas Arshad, Islamic scholar, on
Menstruation (ḥayḍ) is blood that originates from the uterus and exits out of the vagina of a female who is at least 9 lunar years old, excluding blood from illness, injury, pregnancy, or after childbirth.
Menstruation (ḥayḍ) has a precise definition in Islamic law that determines religious rulings for Muslim women. Understanding each component of this definition is essential for proper practice of faith.
Menstruation (ḥayḍ) is blood that originates from the uterus and exits out of the vagina of a female who is at least 9 lunar years old. It is not blood due to an illness or injury. It is also not blood that is seen during pregnancy or after childbirth.
'Blood' refers to any colored vaginal discharge. As established in Islamic jurisprudence, menstrual blood can appear in various colors including black, red, brown, yellow, turbid, or green. There is no consideration for how heavy the flow is or if the physical symptoms of menstruation are experienced. Rather, whenever any of these colors are seen during the expected time of menstruation, it will be deemed menses.
'Originates from the uterus' means that the bleeding must come from the womb. For example, bleeding from an anal fissure or urinary tract infection is not menstruation because the blood is not coming from the uterus.
Moreover, for a woman who has had a total hysterectomy, any vaginal bleeding that she sees will never be considered menstruation because she no longer has a uterus.
Important Note: There is no need to check with a doctor about whether the blood seen at the time of menses is truly coming from the uterus. Unless a woman suspects otherwise, she can assume it does.
'Exits out of the vagina' means that the colored discharge must exit the vagina for the ruling of menstruation to come into effect. According to the Sacred Law, exiting refers to when blood is seen at the edge of the vaginal opening.
Practically speaking, most women know that the blood exited when they see it on their panty liner or after wiping. If a woman extracts the blood herself with a tissue or a tampon, and the blood does not naturally flow out, this falls under the ruling of exiting the vagina.
If a woman feels cramps, but no bleeding exits, then what she feels is of no consequence. Blood must first exit the vagina for menses to start.
'Of a female who is at least 9 lunar years old' means that if a girl who is under the age of 9 lunar years old (approximately 8 solar years and 9 months) saw colored vaginal discharge, the bleeding is not considered menstruation. Rather, it is abnormal bleeding.
Medically speaking, most girls start to menstruate around 12 to 14 years of age.
'Is not blood due to an illness or injury' excludes colored discharge caused by a confirmed vaginal infection or injury. This confirmation must come from a doctor, a past experience the woman had, or clear signs that strongly indicate it is not menstrual blood.
For example, if a woman's doctor told her that the vaginal discharge she is experiencing is specifically from an infection, it would not be considered menstruation.
Similarly, if a woman had an injury to her vagina – perhaps due to falling off a bike – then the bleeding seen thereafter will not be considered menstruation, unless she believes otherwise.
'Is not blood that is seen during pregnancy' refers to any colored vaginal discharge that a pregnant woman sees. According to the Ḥanafī madhhab, a pregnant woman cannot menstruate.
From a medical perspective, the endometrium lining does not shed when a woman is pregnant. In fact, doctors say that it is not normal for a pregnant woman to see blood, and it could be an early sign of a miscarriage.
'Or after childbirth' refers to the blood seen after childbirth. It is called lochia (nifās) and it is not termed menstruation. This postpartum bleeding has different Islamic rulings than menstrual blood.
Each element of the Islamic definition of menstruation serves a specific purpose in determining religious obligations and permissions. Understanding this precise definition helps Muslim women correctly identify when they are experiencing menses versus other types of vaginal discharge, ensuring proper adherence to Islamic law regarding ritual purity and worship.
What is the Islamic definition of menstruation?
Menstruation (ḥayḍ) is blood that originates from the uterus and exits out of the vagina of a female who is at least 9 lunar years old, excluding blood from illness, injury, pregnancy, or after childbirth.
What colors count as menstrual blood in Islam?
Menstrual blood can be black, red, brown, yellow, turbid, or green. Any colored vaginal discharge seen during the expected time of menstruation is considered menses, regardless of flow heaviness.
At what age can a girl start menstruating according to Islam?
A girl must be at least 9 lunar years old (approximately 8 solar years and 9 months) for bleeding to be considered menstruation. Any bleeding before this age is abnormal bleeding.
Can a pregnant woman menstruate in Islam?
According to the Ḥanafī madhhab, a pregnant woman cannot menstruate. Any colored vaginal discharge during pregnancy is not considered menstruation.
Does blood need to exit the body for menstruation to start?
Yes, blood must exit the vagina for menstrual rulings to apply. Internal bleeding or feeling cramps without visible blood exiting has no consequence for Islamic rulings.
Medical confirmation is not required to determine if bleeding comes from the uterus unless there's suspicion otherwise
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Reviewed by
Islamic scholar
Ijazah in the Islamic sciences, with an unbroken chain of transmission, Trained in issuing fatwa in the Hanafi madhab, Jamia Al-Karam; Al-Azhar University
Co-founder of flowdays. He reviews the articles in the flowdays library.
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