Haidh is a type of blood that is discharged from the womb of a woman every month. In order to better understand haidh let us follow the eight simple steps below:

1. Verification

2. Signs of haidh

3. Ensuring it is haidh (Conditions)

4. Traces of haidh

5. Categories of women

6. Rules

7. Different cycles of menstruation

8. Qadha prayers

9. Things that are prohibited (haram)

10. Hajj in haidh without pills

11. Miscellaneous Points

1) Verification

If the blood seen is other than what is stated below, then it is haidh.

• If the blood is not of Istihadha

• If the blood is not of nifas (blood seen after childbirth)

• If the blood is not from a boil or surgery or any wound-like a cut, a tear, etc

Further explanation: Haidh is any bleeding that meets the conditions of haidh which is discussed below in “Ensuring it is haidh (Conditions).”

2) Signs

Blood seen at the time of haidh usually has its own distinctive features:

• It is usually dark brown, or red colour or darker, sometimes even black

• It is usually thick

• It is usually warm

• It usually gushes out with force and is accompanied with burning 1

3) Ensuring It Is Haidh (Conditions)

In order to ensure that the blood seen falls into the category of haidh, the following conditions must be met:

• The blood seen is not less than 3 days2

• The blood is seen for 3 days in a row

• Continuous flow of blood for 3 days.

• In the beginning of the cycle (in some cases) blood is visible, later exists internally (for a few days in the vagina) and after some time it starts flowing again.

• The total duration of haidh is not more than 10 days

• The blood is seen by a woman who is older than 9 years according to the lunar calendar (approximately 8 ½ years solar calendar)

• Between 2 cycles of menstruation, there should be at least a 10-day gap.

• The blood is seen by a woman before she goes through menopause* (please refer the “Note” below)

Note: According to Imam Khomeini Sayyid (Women from the progeny of the Prophet) may get their periods till the age of 60 as per the lunar calendar. Non-Sayyid may get periods until the age of 50 as per the lunar calendar, as per Islamic Laws.

Ayatullah Sistani says that both Sayyid and Non-Sayyid may get their periods till the age of 60.3

4) Traces Of Haidh

This term comprises of 2 things together: ‘signs’ plus ‘ensuring it is Haidh (Conditions)’.

5) Categories Of Women

According to the rules of haidh women can be classified into six categories:

• Women who have a habit of time and duration: This is a woman who sees blood at a particular date and for a fixed duration, two months in a row.

For example: A woman sees blood on the 10^th of March to the 17^th of March and then she sees blood on 10^th of April to the 17^th of April. In this case she can be classified under the category of a ‘woman with a habit of time4 and duration’.

• Women who have a habit of duration: When a woman sees blood on different dates but the duration of the flow is the same. This happens two months in a row.

For example: A woman sees blood on the 10^th of March to the 17^th of March and then she sees blood on the 12^th of April to the 19^th of April. In this case she can be classified under the category of ‘Women who have the habit of duration’.

• Women who have a habit of time: When a woman sees blood at a particular date5 but the duration of the discharge varies. This happens two months in a row.

For example: A woman sees blood on the 10^th of March to the 17^th of March and then she sees blood on 10^th of April to the 18^th of April. In this case she can be classified under the category of ‘Women who have a habit of time.’

Please Note: In the above examples and in other parts of the book, the Gregorian calendar has been used, as it is more familiar to the western reader. The calculations for women who have a habit of time though, require the date of the Islamic lunar calendar to be consistent.

• Mudhtaribah: Disordered duration: When a woman sees blood on different dates and has no fixed duration at all.

• Mubtadiyah: Beginner: One who saw blood for the first time.

• Nasiyah: Forgetful: When a woman forgets her habit, which means that she has forgotten the dates and the duration.

Important Question: When a woman sees blood for 10 days, it is all considered haidh (Menses), but if she sees blood for more than 10 days, then what?

If blood is seen for more than 10 days, then she must decide which category (categories of women) she fits in and follow the rules from the ‘Rules for a woman in menses’ that follow.

Note: Whenever “traces of haidh” is mentioned it means signs of haidh + ensuring it is haidh(conditions).

6) Rules For A Woman In Menses

A. Woman Having The Habit Of Time And Duration

As was mentioned earlier this is a woman who in the last 2 months has seen blood on a particular date and for a fixed duration. When a woman under this category sees blood for 10 days then it is all haidh, but if she sees it for more than 10 days then the blood seen during the days of habit is considered part of her period and the rest is Istihadha.

Some Scenarios Of Women Having A ‘Habit Of Time And Duration’

Scenario 1: If a woman in the last 2 months has seen blood for 7 days but this month she sees blood for 10 days, what is her duty? In this situation she should consider all 10 days as ‘haidh’. As the flow was not more than 10 days.

Scenario 2: If a woman in the last 2 months has seen blood for 8 days (Her habit is 8 days), but this month she sees blood for 13 days, what is her duty? In this situation she should consider the first 8 days as ‘haidh’ and the 5 extra days as ‘Istihadha’, because the total flow was more than 10 days. When a woman’s menses continues for more than 10 days then the blood seen during the days of her habit is haidh and the rest is Istihadha.

Scenario 3: If a woman in the last 2 months has seen blood between the 10^th and 18^th but this month she saw blood from 7^th to 20^th, what is her duty? In this situation she should do the following:

7^th to 9^{th………..} is Istihadha

10^th to 18^th ….is haidh

19^th to 20^th ….is Istihadha

Scenario 4: If a woman in the last two months has seen blood between the 10^th and 18^th but this month, she saw blood between the 10^th and 20^th, then what is her duty? In this situation all 10 days is ‘haidh’, because the flow does not exceed 10 days. This scenario is just like scenario 1.

Note: According to Sistani if a woman after completing her haidh, sees blood again before 10 days of being clean, (for example: if she sees it after 7 days of being clean) then she should calculate the next set of blood as Istihadha. Unless in the first few days of the second set of blood, it has the traces of Itehadha (for example 3 days), she can take those 3 days as Istihadha and complete the 10 days of being clean between 2 bloods (7days clean + 3 days of Istihadha = 10 days) and the rest of the days if it has the traces of haidh she can take it as a second set of haidh. But if the second set of blood has no traces, then all of it is Istihadha. 6

B. Woman Having The Habit Of Duration

As was mentioned earlier this is a woman who has seen blood for a fixed duration but not for a fixed time (date wise) in the past 2 months. When a woman under this category sees blood for 10 days (and it has all the conditions of haidh) then it is all haidh, but if she sees it for more than 10 days then blood seen during the days of habit of duration is period and the rest is Istihadha.

If the blood has no traces of haidh in the beginning of the flow and later it has traces of haidh, in this case she should calculate the number of durations from the beginning of the traces of haidh, as haidh, and the rest is Istihadha. If the blood has no traces of haidh at all, then from the beginning of the blood flow till the number of durations should be considered as haidh and the rest is Istihadha.

Some Scenarios Of Women Who Have A ‘Habit Of Duration’

Scenario 1: If a woman in the last two months has seen blood for 8 days but this month she sees it for 13 days, what is her duty? In this situation she should consider first 8 days as ‘haidh’ and the rest as ‘Istihadha’, because she had a habit of 8 days and this month the flow was more than 10 days.

Scenario 2: If a woman in the last 2 months has seen blood for 8 days but this month she sees it for 10 days, what is her duty?

In this situation she should consider all 10 days as ‘haidh’, as the flow was not more than 10 days.

Scenario 3: If a woman in the last two months has seen blood for 8 days but this month she sees it for 14 days, for example she saw blood from the 1^st to the 14th but the flow had no signs of haidh for 3 days but later it had signs of haidh, what is her duty? In this situation she should do the following:

1^st to 3^rd …….is Istihadha

4rth to the 11^th ……is haidh

12^th to 14^th……is Istihadha

Scenario 4: If a woman in the last two months has seen blood for 8 days but this month she sees it for 13 days, for example she saw blood from the 1^st to the 13th but the flow had no signs of haidh, what is her duty? In this situation she should do the following:

1st to the 8^th ……is haidh

9^th to the 13th……is Istihadha

Note: If a woman has a habit of duration but the blood she saw went beyond her duration and she does not know if it will stop before 10 days. Such a woman should wait for a day7 and she can do jum8 for the rest of the following days. If the blood stops before the 10^th day then she has to make up and do Qadha for only one day that she waited. But if the blood went beyond 10 days and it had the signs of haidh then she has to follow the related rules (Refer scenario 1).

C. Woman Having A Habit Of Time

As was mentioned earlier this is a woman who has seen blood on a particular date in the past 2 months but has no fixed duration. When a woman under this category sees blood for 10 days (and it has all the conditions of haidh) then it is all haidh, but if she sees blood for more than 10 days then she must follow the guidelines below:

• If the blood seen has the signs of haidh then the number of days it has the signs of haidh is ‘haidh’, the rest is Istihadha. (If the blood has the signs of haidh and the same signs remain for 13 days, then it is as if there were no signs because she cannot differentiate based on signs)

• If the blood has no signs of haidh, and the only way the woman knows it is haidh is because of her habit of time, then she should consult her family, to verify the normal time duration of period experienced by female members of her family. If the majority of the women in her family have similar durations, she should follow their pattern. In this case the normal duration in the family is considered to be haidh, and the remaining days are Istihadha.

• If the family members have different durations and it is hard to determine, then a woman must calculate the first 7 days as part of her menses (haidh), and the rest as Istihadha.

Ayatullah Sistani says that she can choose any number of days between 3 to10 that she thinks fits her situation, though it is better to choose 7 (Please refer the masala for further details). 9

• If a woman sees blood in her habit of time, that is on her expected date; first without signs of haidh, then with signs of haidh, but this flow (without signs + with signs) went beyond 10 days. In this case she should start calculating from the day she saw blood even if the blood had no signs of haidh in the beginning.10 The normal duration in the family will be considered as haidh and the remaining days will be Istihadha. If the family members have different durations and it is hard to determine, then she must calculate the first 7 days as part of her menses (haidh), and the rest as Istihadha.11

Note: consulting your family for the number of days means to ask your mother, sisters, paternal aunts and maternal aunts, and grandmothers about their blood cycle (menstruation). Asking about their duration, means to ask how many days do they see blood every month?

Ayatullah Sistani says it is enough if you ask one sister who is about your age and body type.

Some Scenarios Of Women Who Have A ‘Habit Of Time’

Scenario 1: This woman since the last 2 months has seen blood on one particular date but her duration varied. This month she saw blood on the same date but the flow went on for 10 days. In this situation all the ten days are considered to be ‘haidh’.

Scenario 2: This woman since the last 2 months has seen blood on one particular date but her duration varied. This month she saw blood on the same date but the flow continued for 13 days. If the blood had all the signs of haidh for 8 days for example, then this woman should consider 8 days as being haidh and the rest as Istihadha.

Scenario 3: This woman since the last 2 months has seen blood on one particular date but her duration varied. This month she saw blood on the same date but the flow carried on for 13 days. There were no signs of haidh. (Of course she must have conditions of haidh, other than maximum 10 days.

Also, it’s not just when there aren’t signs of haidh, it’s also if the entire 13 days had signs of haidh - in which case, she isn’t able to differentiate the bleeding based on signs so she must consult family). In this situation this woman should consult her family and if for example her family has a habit of 8 days then this woman should consider 8 days as being haidh and 5 days as Istihadha.

Scenario 4: This woman since the last 2 months has seen blood on one particular date but her duration varied. This month she saw blood on the same date but the flow carried on for 13 days. There were no signs of haidh. (Of course she must have conditions of haidh, other than maximum 10 days. Also, it’s not just when there aren’t signs of haidh, it’s also if the entire 13 days had signs of haidh - in which case, she isn’t able to differentiate the bleeding based on signs so she must consult family). In this situation this woman should consult her family and if her family has no particular duration, then she should consider 7 days to be haidh and the rest Istihadha.12

Ayatullah Sistani says that she can choose any number of days between 3 to10 that she thinks fits her situation, though it is better to choose 7 (Please refer the masala for further details). 13

Scenario 5: This woman since the last 2 months has seen blood on one particular date but her duration varied. This month she saw blood on the same date but the flow carried on for 13 days. There were no signs of haidh. (Of course she must have conditions of haidh, other than maximum 10 days. Also, it’s not just when there aren’t signs of haidh, it’s also if the entire 13 days had signs of haidh - in which case, she isn’t able to differentiate the bleeding based on signs so she must consult family). In this situation this woman should consult her family but if she has no family, then she should consider 7 days as haidh and the rest Istihadha.14

Ayatullah Sistani says that she can choose any number of days between 3 to10 that she thinks fits her situation, though it is better to choose 7 (Please refer the masala for further details). 15

Scenario 6: This woman since the last 2 months has seen blood on one particular date but her duration varied. This month she saw blood on the same date but the flow carried on for 13 days. There were no signs of haidh in her blood for 4 days. The rest of the days she had signs of haidh. In this situation she should consult her family and if for example her family has a habit of 8 days then this woman should consider from the time she saw blood 8 days as being haidh (including days with no signs of haidh and days with signs of haidh) and the remaining 5 days as Istihadha.

Scenario 7: This woman since the last 2 months has seen blood on one particular date but her duration varied. This month she saw blood on the same date but the flow carried on for 13 days. There were no signs of haidh in her blood for 4 days. The rest of the days she had signs of haidh. In this situation she should consult her family and if her family has no particular duration, or if she has no family, then she should consider from the time she saw blood, 7 days as being haidh (including days with no signs of haidh and days with signs of haidh) and the remaining days as Istihadha.

D. Mudhtaribah - Disordered duration

As we mentioned earlier, in the past 2 months when a woman sees blood on different dates and has no fixed duration at all then she is known as Mudhtaribah.16 If she sees blood for more than 10 days then she must follow the guidelines below:

• If the blood has signs of haidh, then the number of days with signs is haidh and the rest is Istihadha. (If the blood has the signs of haidh and the same signs remain for 13 days, then it is as if there were no signs).

• If the blood has no signs of haidh then the way to calculate the duration is:

  1. A woman should consult her family, to verify the normal time duration of period in the family. Once she has a number. Then she should…

  2. According to Ihtiyat al-Wajib ;17 use the number 7 to calculate the # of days of haidh and the # of days of ‘Jum’ and the # of days of Istihadha. (This will be clearer when we get into different scenarios)

Ayatullah Sistani says that you use your family’s habit to determine haidh and the rest is Istihadha. If it is hard to consult the family then you choose a number between 3-10 that is suitable to yourself as haidh and the rest is Istihadha. It is better to use number 7 if possible, for haidh. No need to do jum (Please refer the masala for further details). 18

Jum: Jum means following the rules of both haidh and Istihadha at the same time. In the days of Jum, a woman cannot do the things that are haram in haidh, but must do all the things that are wajib (obligatory) in Istihadha. Since salat is obligatory in Istihadha along with ghusl (if needed depending on the type of Istihadh) she must perform ghusl and salat. Since sex is haram (prohibited) in haidh then she should refrain from sex.

Some Scenarios Of Mudhtaribah - Disordered Duration

Scenario 1: This woman in the past 2 months has seen blood on different dates and the blood flow did not have a fixed duration. She saw blood for 13 days and out of those 13 days there were 8 days where she saw signs of haidh. In this situation she should consider 8 days as haidh and the rest as Istihadha.

Scenario 2: This woman in the past 2 months has seen blood on different dates and the blood flow did not have a fixed duration. Then this month she saw blood for 13 days, and the blood had no signs of haidh. In this situation she must consult her family, to verify the normal time duration of ‘haidh’ in the family. Let us suppose the number of days that make up the normal duration of haidh in her family is 5 days. Since 5 days is less than 7 (the number 7 is what we discussed in ‘B’ above), she should follow these guidelines according to Imam Khomeini:19

The duration of her haidh is 5 days

The duration of ‘Jum” is 2 days (Difference between 5 and 7)

The duration of Istihadha is 6 days

Total duration of blood flow is 13 days

According to Ayatullah Sistani, her haidh will be 5 days and Istihadha will be 8 days. No jum’ days required.

Scenario 3: This woman in the past 2 months has seen blood on different dates and the blood flow did not have a fixed duration. This month she saw blood for 13 days. The blood had no signs of haidh. In this situation she must consult her family, to verify the normal time duration of ‘haidh’ in the family. Let us suppose the number of days that is the normal duration of haidh in her family is 8 days. Since 8 days is greater than 7 (the number 7 is what we discussed in ‘B’ above), she should follow these guidelines according to Imam Khomeini:20

The duration of her haidh is 7 days

The duration of ‘Jum” is 1 day (Difference between 7 and 8)

The duration of Istihadha is 5 days

Total duration of blood flow 13 days

According to Ayatullah Sistani, her haidh will be 8 days and Istihadha will be 5 days. No jum’ days required.

Scenario 4: This woman in the past 2 months has seen blood on different dates and the blood flow did not have a fixed duration. This month she saw blood for 13 days. The blood had no signs of haidh. In this situation she must consult her family, to verify the normal time duration of ‘haidh’ in the family. Let us suppose the number of days that is the normal duration of haidh in her family is 7 days. Since 7 days is the same as 7 (the number 7 is what we discussed in ‘B’ above), she should follow these guidelines according to Imam Khomeini:21

The duration of her haidh is 7 days

The duration of ‘Jum” is 0 days

The duration of Istihadha is 6 days

Total duration of blood flow 13 days

According to Ayatullah Sistani, her haidh will be 7 days and Istihadha will be 6 days. No jum’ days required.

E. Mubtadiyah - Beginner

This is a woman who sees blood for the first time. Then she is known as “Mubtadiyah’. If she sees blood for more than 10 days then she should follow the same rules as a woman ‘having the habit of time’ does.

• If the blood seen has signs of haidh, the number of days it has the signs of haidh is ‘haidh’, and the rest is Istihadha. (If the blood has the signs of haidh and the same signs remain for 13 days, then it is as if there were no signs because she cannot differentiate).

• If the blood has no signs of haidh, then a woman should consult her family, to verify the normal time duration of haidh in the family. If the majority of women in her family have the same number of days, she should follow their pattern. Then the normal duration in the family is going to be haidh, and the remaining days is Istihadha.

• If the family members have different durations and it is hard to determine, then she must calculate according to a 7-day period, the rest being Istihadha.

Ayatullah Sistani says that you use your family’s habit to determine haidh and the rest is Istihadha. If it is hard to consult the family then you choose a number between 3-10 that is suitable to yourself as haidh and the rest is Istihadha. It is better to use number 7 if possible, for haidh.22

Note: Consulting your family for the # of days means asking your mother, sisters, paternal aunts and maternal aunts, and grandmothers about their blood cycle (menstruation). Asking about their duration, means asking how many days do they see blood every month?

Ayatullah Sistani says it is enough if you ask one sister who is about your age. Or any blood relative what her habit was when she was close to your age. But they also have to be close to your body type - ex: it can’t be the case that you’re super skinny and they’re not. You should be similar body types AND similar ages.

Some scenarios of Mubtadiya - Beginner

Scenario 1: This woman has seen blood for the first time. The blood flow went on for 10 days. In this situation, all the ten days are ‘haidh’.

Scenario 2: This woman has seen blood for the first time. The blood flow carried on for 13 days. If the blood had all the signs of haidh for 8 days for example, but did not have the signs of haidh for the last 5 days, then this woman should consider 8 days of haidh and the rest Istihadha.

Scenario 3: This woman has seen blood for the first time. The blood flow carried on for 13 days. There were no signs of haidh. In this situation this woman should consult her family and if for example her family has a habit of 8 days then this woman should consider 8 days as being haidh and 5 days as Istihadha.

Scenario 4: This woman has seen blood for the first time. The blood flow carried on for 13 days. There were no signs of haidh. In this situation this woman should consult her family and if her family has no particular duration, then she should consider 7 days as haidh and the rest as Istihadha.

According to Ayatullah Sistani she can choose any number of days between 3 to 10 that is suitable to her. But it is better to choose number 7 as haidh.

Scenario 5: This woman has seen blood for the first time. The blood flow carried on for 13 days. There were no signs of haidh. In this situation this woman should consult her family but she has no family, then she should consider 7 days as haidh and the rest as Istihadha.

According to Ayatullah Sistani she can choose any number of days between 3 to 10 that is suitable to her. But it is better to choose number 7 as haidh.

Scenario 6: This woman has seen blood for the first time. The blood flow carried on for 7 days with traces of haidh. She was clean for 7 days. But again, she saw blood for 10 days (with no traces of haidh for 3 days and 7 days with traces of haidh). She should follow these guidelines according to Sistani (refer your Marja’):

7 days…..haidh

7 days …..clean (pak)

3 days ….Istihadha

7 days ….haidh

Scenario 7: This woman has seen blood for the first time. The blood flow carried on for 7 days with traces of haidh. She was clean for 7 days. But again, she saw blood for 10 days with traces of haidh. She should follow these guidelines:23

7 days…..haidh

7 days…..clean (pak)

10 days…..Istihadha

Scenario 8: This woman has seen blood for the first time. The blood flow carried on for 7 days with traces of haidh. She was clean for 7 days. But again, she saw blood for 10 days without traces of haidh. She should follow these guidelines:24

7 days…..haidh

7 days…..clean (pak)

10 days…..Istihadha

Scenario 9: This woman has seen blood for the first time on May 10th. The blood flow carried on for 7 days with traces of haidh. She was clean for 7 days. But again, she saw blood for 27 days with traces of haidh. She should follow these guidelines:

May 10 th to May 17th …..haidh

7 days…..clean (pak)

rest of the days…..Istihadha until June 10^th

June 10^th to June 17^th…..haidh

The rest will be Istihadha.

F. Forgetful - Nasiyah

When a woman forgets her dates and duration she is known as ‘Nasiyah’. If she sees blood for more than 10 days then she should follow these guidelines:

• If the blood has conditions of ‘haidh’ and it lasts no more than 10 days then it is all considered ‘haidh’.

• If blood has traces of ‘haidh’ for 8 days, no traces of haidh for 5 days, and the blood flow lasts 13 days, then 8 days is haidh and 5 days is Istihadha.

• If blood has no traces at all and the flow lasts 13 days, then she should consider 7 days as ‘haidh’ and the remaining days as ‘Istihadha’.

7) Different Types Of Menstruation

• Type 1: This woman is clean the whole month, only sees blood during the days of menstruation.

• Type 2: This woman sees blood (spotting) the whole month, but during the days of haidh the blood has traces of haidh.

• Type 3: This woman is clean the whole month, but during the days of haidh, she sees blood continuously for at least 3 days or more, then there is no blood for a day or two, then she sees blood again. If this routine continues for 10 days then it is all haidh. This is as per Imam Khomeini.25

Further explanation: The first 3 days have to be continuous. So she must see blood for at least 3 days without any gaps, then she can have as many gaps as she likes. But first 3 days cannot have gaps.

Note: As per Ayatullah Sistani the days within the period of haidh when one does not see blood should be considered as ‘Jum ‘, Ihtiyat al-Wajib 26(please refer to the glossary for the meaning of jum and Ihtiyat al-Wajib).

8) Qadha Salat

Performing salat is haram while a woman is in haidh and she does not have to do qadha for it27 including Salat al-Ayat28, but as soon as she knows that she is done with haidh29 then she should pray within the time for salat. Below are some problem scenarios and some solutions:

• This woman was clean and delayed salat30 and then got ‘haidh’. This woman needs to do Qadha for this Salat when she is done with haidh,

As she did not pray on time that day and she delayed when she could have prayed on time.

• This woman had her period and when it stopped, she had just enough time to take the ritual bath(ghusl) and do wudhu and pray.31 (Sistani says there is no need to do wudhu after ghusl-e-haidh.) She delayed it, hence the time for Salat passed. She must do Qadha Salat, because she had enough time to take the ritual bath, wudhu and pray but she did not. Or she had enough time to do tayammum and pray32 (Refer to your Marja’).

• This woman was clean then she saw blood, so she thought it was haidh. Then later she realized that it was not haidh. She should do Qadha prayers for all the prayers she missed. For example, she saw blood for 2 days and it stopped.

9) Things That Are Haram In ‘Haidh’

• Worship for which wudhu is required, for example: Salat and Tawaaf of Ka’aba.

• Fasting

• Vaginal intercourse (sex)

• All the actions that are haram in the state of janabat:

  • It’s Haram to enter Masjid al-Haram33 and Masjid un-Nabi.34

  • Stopping in other mosques and the room where the shrine of Imam35 is located is Haram. Passing through one door and coming out through another door is okay as long as one does not stop36 in a Masjid or Shrine of Imams.

  • Placing something in the mosque is Haram, but picking up something is no problem, according to Imam Khomeini. However as per Ayatullah Sistani a woman cannot place something or pick up something while a woman is Junub or when in the state of Haidh.

  • Reciting 4 surahs that contain the Wajib Sajda is Haram: Surah as-Sajda, Surah Fussilat, Surah Al-Najm and Surah Al-‘Alaq. According to Imam Khomeini, even reciting one word of the surahs mentioned above in the state of janabat or haidh is haram.

Note: Ayatullah Sistani says that reciting the Surah is not a problem but a woman in the state of haidh or janabat should not recite the ayahs that have the wajib Sajda in them. Surah as-Sajda Ayat 15, Surah Fussilat Ayat 38, Surah Al-Najm Ayat 62, and Surah Al-A’laq Ayat 19.37

• Reciting more than 7 verses is makrooh.38 But this makrooh is in worship. Hence if recited the reward is there but it is less. So, it is better to recite where the reward is less rather than not reciting where there is no reward at all.

• It’s Haram to touch the words of Qur’an with any part of the body.

• It’s Haram to touch the names of Allah in any language.

• It’s Haram to touch names of the Prophets and the Imams and Sayyida Fatimah (sa). As per Imam Khomeini its Ihtiyat al-Wajib not to touch the names of the 14 infallibles.

Note: As per Ayatullah Sistani its better (Ihtiyat al-Mustahab) if a woman does not touch the names of the 14 Infallibles in the state of janabat and haidh.

10) Hajj In Haidh Without Pills

• If a woman starts menstruating before or while she wears her Ihram then her duty is as follows:

At miqat39 her intention will be ‘Hajj al-Ifrad’. She will make the intention standing outside the mosque. She will not do ‘Umrah al-Tamatto’ and will go straight to Arafah, then Muzdalifah, Mina, Jamarat and do Taqsir. Qurbani is not wajib on her.

She returns to Mecca and if her haidh ends and after her ghusl al-haidh, she will do ‘Aʻamal al-Hajj in Mecca (Tawaf az-Ziarath, salat, Sayee, Tawaf un-Nisa and salat).

If possible, then she will go to Tanʻim (closest miqat) and make the intention of ‘Umrah al-Mufradah’. Then she will go to Mecca and do Tawaf, salat, Sayee, Tawaf un-Nisa and salat.

• If a woman after she does her niyyah for Umrah tamatto, starts menstruating, in such a situation she can retain her niyyah for Umrah at-Tamatto and continue her duty by performing her umrah without the tawaf and salat (she will do the sayʻi and taqseer only). After that she will make her niyyah for Hajj at-Tamatto and will go to Arafat, muzdalifah….

When she will return to Mecca from Mina (and if her haidh ends and after her ghusl al-haidh) before her tawaf al-Hajj she will perform the tawaf al-umrah and its salat with the intention of Qadha and continue with the remaining part of her duty like others.

• If a woman after she does her niyyah for Umrah tamatto, starts menstruating but she knows and is certain that she will be in the state of haidh even after she returns from Mina and will not have enough time (for example her caravan will not wait for her) then she should make a naib (a substitute like her husband or someone eligible) do the tawaf and salat for her, then she should continue with the sayʻi herself.

• Haidh during Tawaf:

• If she gets her period during tawaf she should leave Masjid al-Haram immediately.

• If she gets her period before completing the 4rth round, her tawaf is void.

• If she gets her period after completing the 4rth round, she should continue with the rest of her rounds after her haidh ends and after her ghusl al-haidh. If she has less time, then she should do the qadha of the remaining rounds after she returns from Mina, before she does her tawaf al-Hajj.

• If she realizes that she is on her period after her salat of tawaf, but is not sure if it started before salat or after the salat, then she should consider it to have started after the salat. In this case her tawaf and salat are accepted and not void. But if she is sure that it started before her salat or during her salat, then her salat is void.

11) Miscellaneous Points Regarding Haidh

• A pregnant or a breast-feeding woman may also see haidh. Depending on the conditions of the blood, if a woman is certain that the blood is haidh (please refer to the section of ‘Ensuring it is haidh (Conditions)’, and then she should follow the rules of haidh.

• If the verse of the Qur’an that is followed by a wajib Sajda, is heard in the state of haidh (live), the woman must do the sajdah (it is wajib), as wudhu is not required.

• Pronouncing divorce in the state of haidh is void. But if the blood has stopped (haidh has finished), and the ghusl has not been performed yet, then the divorce is valid.

• Pronouncing the formula of marriage (Nikah) in the state of haidh is allowed.

• Applying Henna (mehendi) in the state of haidh is allowed but it is makrooh.40

• According to Ayatullah Sistani ghusl al-haidh suffices for wudhu.41

• Blood seen after hysterectomy if it has the traces of haidh, it is haidh or else it is Istihadha42 whereas Ayatullah Sistani says it is Istihadha.

• Blood seen from the breaking of the hymen does not need ghusl or wudhu. Just wash the vagina after the blood stops. Treat it like an injury. (Considering that she did her ghusl al-janabat after sex).

• According to Ayatullah Sistani if a woman is taking pills to stop her period and she is a woman of time or time and duration; if she sees blood around her date for 3 days in a row continuously, it is haidh. If she doesn’t see 3 days in a row, it is Istihadha.

• If a woman with the habit of time and duration, after her haidh has ended, sees blood again in less than 10 days gap. Her entire second set of blood will be considered as Istihadha (please refer scenario 6 and 7 under Mubtadiyah).

• A woman can have sex after her haidh has been completed and before her ghusl al-haidh. But a woman cannot have sex after her Nifas has completed without a ghusl.

• 1. However, there are always some exceptions. A woman may see blood that is pink, brown or not thick…
• 2. Calculation of a day:
  From fajr till sunset
  Time that is diminished from the previous day should be added to the following day (24 hours)
  A day according to Syed Sistani, it is Azan al-fajr to sunset (Masala 478) and According to Rahbar (Khamenei) it is from Sunrise to sunset.
• 3. According to Rahbar (Khamenei) if a Non-Sayyid sees blood after 50 yrs (lunar calendar), she has to do jum (please refer to the glossary) as per Ihtiyat al-Wajib (she can refer to another Marja’, like Sistani, in this case and take it as haidh).
• 4. Time: 1. Starts same date every month or sometimes a day or two before or after.
  or
  2. Time between 2 periods is the same.
  Eg: every month she sees blood after 28 days.
  or
  3. Ends on the same date
  (Sistani, Masail al-Jami’i, vol. 1, p. 209, masalah 544).
• 5. Sometimes she might see it around her date; sometimes a day or two before or after. If she always sees it before or after then she is mudhtaribah (the disordered duration).
• 6. Rahbar (Khamenei) says that the second set of blood is all Istihadha unless she gets clean (pak, Tahir) in between. After that if the blood seen has the traces of haidh, she can consider it as haidh but if it has no traces of haidh then it is Istihadha until her next menstruation.
• 7. This is called Istidhhar.
• 8. Refer to the glossary.
• 9. Sistani, Taudhil al-masail Jame Persian, 1403) , vol. 1, masala 570.
• 10. For a woman who has a habit of time “time has precedence over signs of haidh”.
• 11. Rahbar (Khamenei) has the same opinion.
• 12. Rahbar (Khamenei) has the same opinion.
• 13. Sistani, Taudhil al-masail Jame Persian, 1403) , vol. 1, masala 570.
• 14. Rahbar (Khamenei) has the same opinion.
• 15. Sistani, Taudhil al-masail Jame Persian, 1403) , vol. 1, masala 570.
• 16. She could have a duration, in which she always sees a range of days for haidh. Ex: her haidh always lasts between 6-8 days. In this case, she isn’t really a mudhtaribah - she has an incomplete habit of duration of 6-8 days.
  (Sistani, Taudhih al-Masail Jame’, Persian translation (1403) , vol. 1, masala 538)
• 17. Please refer the glossary for the meaning. Imam Khomeini,Taudhi al-Masail, masala 594
• 18. Sistani, Taudhih al-Masail Jame’, Persian translation (1403), vol. 1, masala 590.
• 19. Rahbar (Khamenei) has the same opinion. As it is Ihtiyat al-Wajib, she can refer (do ruju’) to Sistani in this case and skip the jum.
• 20. Rahbar (Khamenei) has the same opinion. As it is Ihtiyat al-Wajib, she can refer (do ruju’) to Sistani in this case and skip the jum.
• 21. Rahbar (Khamenei) has the same opinion.
• 22. Sistani, Taudhih al-Masail Jame’, vol. 1, (Persian translation, 1403), masala 585.
• 23. Sistani and Rahbar (Khamenei) have the same opinion here.
• 24. Sistani and Rahbar (Khamenei) have the same opinion here.
• 25. Rahbar (Khamenei) holds the same opinion.
• 26. As it is Ihtiyat al-Wajib, in this issue she can refer to another scholar who is an Aalam and follow his fatwa. For example Rahbar (Khamenei) says that in such a case all the 10 days is considered as haidh.
• 27. Salat missed in haidh has no qadha but the fasts missed in haidh one has to do qadha.
• 28. Sistani, Masail al-Jami’i, vol. 1, p. 201, masala 519.
• 29. She must verify she is done with haidh by inserting cotton inside the vagina and checking if there is any blood still in there.
• 30. she delayed salat to such an extent that she would have had time to pray one or both. For example, if she only delayed Zuhrain by 4 minutes and then got her haidh, she will only have to do qadha for Zuhr because that’s the only salaat she had time to pray before she got haidh. If she delayed for like an hour, then she would of course have to do qadha for both as she had plenty of time to pray them.
• 31. Rahbar (Khamenei) has the same opinion.
• 32. Both Sistani and Rahbar (Khamenei) say that if you had enough time to do tayammum and pray, you must do so. And then do ghusl as well afterwards when you have time.
• 33. Excluding Safa and Marwah.
• 34. Excluding the courtyards that surround the mosque.
• 35. The room where the shrine is located should not be entered but the corridors (ravaq) around it are allowed.
• 36. No U-turns too.
• 37. Rahbar (Khamenei) has the same ruling.
• 38. Please refer glossary for the meaning.
• 39. Miqat is a place where pilgrims wear their Ihram for Hajj or Umrah..
• 40. Please refer the glossary for the meaning.
• 41. Sistani, Masail al-Jami’i, vol. 1, p. 202, masala 523, Persian translation.
• 42. Rahbar (Khamenei) has this ruling.