Islamic law recognizes three types of habit for women: menses habit, lochia habit, and purity habit. Each habit is based on the last sound blood or purity experienced.
Reviewed by Ustad Abas Arshad, Islamic scholar, on
In Islamic law, there are three types of habit (ʿāda): menses habit, lochia habit, and purity habit, all based on the most recent sound blood or purity a woman experienced.
The concept of habit (ʿāda) plays a crucial role in Islamic menstruation rulings. The habit refers to the last sound blood or sound purity that a woman saw, serving as a reference point for various Islamic legal determinations.
A woman can potentially have three distinct types of habit:
This habit is established based on valid menstrual bleeding that a woman experiences. Every menstruating woman will have a menses habit.
This habit relates to postpartum bleeding. However, not every woman will have a lochia habit. In fact, if a woman never gives birth or miscarries a developed fetus, she will not have a lochia habit.
This habit is based on the periods of cleanliness between bleeding episodes. Every menstruating woman will have both a menses habit and a purity habit.
Not any blood or purity span can be taken as a habit. Only sound blood or sound purity can establish a habit – meaning that the blood and purity must abide by the definitions and conditions set by the Sacred Law.
A woman cannot take abnormal uterine bleeding (istiḥāḍa) or an unsound purity as a habit.
The habit refers to the last – meaning the most recent – sound blood or sound purity that a woman experienced.
To illustrate how a menses habit is established, consider this example:
A woman sees:
Result: The July bleeding is the most recent sound blood she saw. Consequently, her menses habit will be established as 7 days. This is upon the condition that a purity span of at least 15 complete days free of blood follows it.
It is not unusual for women to have slight variations in the days of their cycle from month to month. As long as the days of blood and purity fluctuate within the sound ranges, they will be used to establish a habit.
For example, one month a woman might see 8 days of menstrual blood and 20 days of purity, and then the next month she sees 6 days of menstrual blood and 25 days of purity. This variation in numbers is normal and healthy.
The habit is needed in various circumstances. One important example is when a woman experiences abnormal uterine bleeding (istiḥāḍa). The habit will be used to distinguish between what is ruled as menstrual bleeding, lochia bleeding, and abnormal bleeding.
Understanding the three types of habit – menses, lochia, and purity – is essential for Muslim women to navigate their religious obligations correctly. The habit system, based on the most recent sound bleeding or purity periods, provides a framework for determining Islamic rulings during times of irregular bleeding. Recording your menstrual cycle becomes crucial for maintaining accurate habit records.
What are the three types of habit in Islamic menstruation law?
The three types of habit are menses habit, lochia habit, and purity habit. Every menstruating woman has menses and purity habits, but only women who give birth or miscarry have lochia habits.
Can any bleeding establish a habit?
No, only sound blood or sound purity can establish a habit. Abnormal uterine bleeding (istiḥāḍa) or unsound purity cannot be used to establish a habit.
Which bleeding is used to determine the habit?
The habit is based on the last (most recent) sound blood or sound purity that a woman experienced, as long as it meets the conditions set by Sacred Law.
When is the habit used in Islamic law?
The habit is used in various circumstances, particularly when a woman experiences abnormal uterine bleeding (istiḥāḍa) to distinguish between menstrual bleeding, lochia bleeding, and abnormal bleeding.
Women who never give birth or miscarry will not have a lochia habit
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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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