The possible days of menses are the potential days that a woman could experience menstruation during the month, starting after 15 complete days of purity and lasting up to 10 days.
Reviewed by Ustad Abas Arshad, Islamic scholar, on
Possible days of menses begin when a woman sees blood after at least 15 complete days (360 hours) of purity and last up to 10 complete days (240 hours) from the onset of blood.
The possible days of menses (PDM) refer to the potential days that a woman could experience menstruation during the month. Understanding when these days begin and end is crucial for proper Islamic worship and ritual purity.
As a general principle, a woman's menstruation can potentially begin when she sees blood after a purity span of at least 15 complete days (360 hours) free of blood.
More precisely, the expected timing is known by a woman's purity habit. When the days of her purity habit elapse, the possible days of menses officially begin – providing that her bleeding starts.
When the expected time of menstruation is based on the purity habit, it is known as the habit in place or the menstrual place (makān).
Situation: A woman has a menses habit of 5 days and a purity habit of 20 days.
Result: Once her 20-day purity habit elapses, the expected time of menstruation begins, which is commonly termed the menstrual place.
If bleeding does not begin after her purity habit is finished, she is obliged to continue praying and fasting Ramaḍān until the bleeding starts. If she stops her obligatory worship before blood appears, she is sinful.
If the bleeding starts before her purity habit is finished, she applies the early blood formula. The possible days of menses start when bleeding begins, regardless of whether it occurs:
The possible days of menses last up to 10 complete days (240 hours) counting from the onset of blood.
Situation: A woman has a menses habit of 8 days and a purity habit of 18 days. After her menstruation ends, she sees 18 days of purity like her habit, and then bleeding starts on January 20th at 4 pm during her expected time of menses.
Timeline:
This 10-day maximum applies regardless of when the bleeding begins or what the woman's individual menses habit might be.
Understanding the possible days of menses helps women navigate their worship obligations and maintain proper ritual purity according to Islamic law. The timing is primarily determined by individual purity habits, with the 15-day minimum purity period and 10-day maximum menstrual period serving as universal boundaries.
For women learning to record their menstrual cycles, understanding these timeframes is essential for establishing accurate habits and following proper Islamic guidelines.
When do the possible days of menses start?
The possible days of menses start when a woman sees blood after at least 15 complete days (360 hours) of purity. More precisely, they begin when her purity habit elapses and bleeding starts, which is called the menstrual place (makān).
How long do the possible days of menses last?
The possible days of menses last up to 10 complete days (240 hours) counting from the onset of blood, regardless of when the bleeding begins or what the woman's individual menses habit might be.
What should a woman do if no blood appears after her purity habit ends?
If bleeding does not begin after her purity habit is finished, she is obliged to continue praying and fasting Ramaḍān until the bleeding starts. If she stops her obligatory worship before blood appears, she is sinful.
What happens if bleeding starts before the purity habit is finished?
If bleeding starts before her purity habit is finished, she applies the early blood formula. The possible days of menses start when bleeding begins, even if it's earlier than expected.
Understanding these timeframes is essential for proper worship obligations and ritual purity
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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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