Post Natal Bleeding (Nifaas)

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Post natal bleeding

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

 

The discharge of blood after the birth of a child or after a miscarriage is known as Nifas.

 

The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam has said “The time of Nifas is forty days unless Tuhr (purity) is attained before it.”   (Mustadrak Hakim)

 

There is a general consensus that there is no minimum limit of Nifas.  The total length of Nifas is from the delivery of the child till when the bleeding stops (up to the limit of forty days).  Only if the bleeding stops for 15 days at any time within this period does the Nifas end.  If the bleeding does not stop for 15 days then Nifas will continue irrespective of how short or random the bleeding is.   (Raddul Muhtar p.496 v.1)

 

1.  A woman who experiences post natal bleeding is not allowed to recite any verses from the Holy Quran.

 

Saaiduna Ibn Umar Radiallahu Anhu relates that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam has said “A Haidh and a person in need of a bath must not recite anything from the Holy Quran.”   (Sunan Tirmizi p.34 v.1)

NOTE: A Haidh and Post Natal bleeding woman have the same ruling.

 

2.  Similarly, she is not allowed to perform tawaf.  Saaidah Aaisha Radiallahu Anha came to Makkah for Hajj and was a Haidh.  She complained to the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam that she was unable to perform the rituals of Hajj.  The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam informed her “Do what the pilgrims do apart from tawaf, which should be done when you become purified.”   (Sahih Bukhari p.44 v.1)

 

3.  She is not allowed to enter the Mosque.

 

Saaidha Aaisha Radiallahu Anhu relates that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam would be in Itikaf while she was in her room which was adjacent to the Masjid, he would stretch his head out of the Masjid for her to watch while she was a Haidh.   (Sahih Bukhari)

 

4.  She is not allowed to fast or pray.  However she should do qadha of the fasts on a later date.   (Raddul Muhtar p.485 v.1)

 

5.  She is not allowed to engage herself in sexual intercourse.   (Surah Baqarah v.222)

 

6.  She will be allowed to engage in foreplay (touching, kissing etc) with her husband.  The only restriction is that intercourse is not to be engaged.

 

Saaidah Aaisha Radiallahu Anhu reports if any of the wives of the Prophet of Allahu Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam became a Haidh, the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam would instruct her to trouser herself and he would then engage in foreplay.   (Sahih Muslim p.141 v.1)

 

Direct contact between the womans’ navel and the knees is impermissible.  Indirect contact such as stimulation through a barrier (i.e.clothing) is permissible. Similarly, direct contact above the navel and below the knees is permissible.   (Fatawa Hindiyyah p.39 v.1)

 

7. It will be permissible for a woman experiencing post natal bleeding to hold dua books with verses of the Quran in them.  It is permitted to recite duas from the Holy Quran with the intention of dua, though not with the intention of reciting the Holy Quran.   (Raddul Muhtar p.488 v.1)

 

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

Source

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Ghusl & Salaah after Nifas

 

Q: When should I start praying after baby birth?

A: When your nifaas (post natal bleeding) terminates, you should commence performing Salaah. The maximum period of nifaas is forty days. If the bleeding stops before forty days, you should make ghusl and commence performing Salaah.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

( والنفاس لغة ) ولادة المرأة  وشرعا ( دم ) فلو لم تره هل تكون نفساء المعتمد نعم ( ويخرج ) من رحم فلو ولدته من سرتها إن سال الدم من الرحم فنفساء وإلا فذات جرح وإن ثبت له أحكام الولد ( عقب ولد ) أو أكثره ولو متقطعا عضوا عضوا لا أقله فتتوضأ إن قدرت أو تتيمم وتومىء بصلاة ولا تؤخر فما عذر الصحيح القادر وحكمه كالحيض في كل شيء إلا في سبعة ذكرتها في الخزائن وشرحي للملتقى  منها أنه ( لا حد لأقله ) إلا إذا احتيج إليه لعدة كقوله إذا ولدت فأنت طالق فقالت مضت عدتي فقدره الإمام بخمسة وعشرين مع ثلاث حيض والثاني بأحد عشر والثالث بساعة  ( وأكثره أربعون يوما ) كذا رواه الترمذي وغيره ولأن أكثره أربعة أمثال أكثر الحيض ( والزائد ) على أكثره ( استحاضة ) لو مبتدأة أما المعتادة فترد لعاداتها وكذا الحيض فإن انقطع على أكثرهما أو قبله فالكل نفاس وكذا حيض إن وليه طهر تام وإلا فعادتها وهي تثبت وتنتقل بمرة به يفتى وتمامه فيما علقناه على الملتقى  (الدر المختار 1 /300)

أقل النفاس ما يوجد ولو ساعة وعليه الفتوى وأكثره أربعون كذا في السراجية وإن زاد الدم على الأربعين فالأربعون في المبتدأة والمعروفة في المعتادة نفاس هكذا في المحيط ... الأحكام التي يشترك فيها الحيض والنفاس ثمانية منها أن يسقط عن الحائض والنفساء الصلاة فلا تقضي هكذا في الكفاية (الفتاوى الهندية 1 /37-38)

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

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Intermittent bleeding during Nifaas

 

Q. Kindly provide guidance on Nifaas,

What do I do when I stop bleeding after a few weeks.   Do I perform a Ghusl when I stop bleeding and perform salaah and when the bleeding starts again after a few days do I stop salaah and wait till it has ended and then perform Ghusl?

(Question published as received)

 

A. The maximum number of days of Nifaas (post-natal bleeding) is forty days according to Islamic Law. If the post-natal bleeding pauses within these forty days and you feel that the bleeding is over, you should take a Ghusl and perform Salaah as normal. If bleeding resumes within forty days, it will be considered that your Nifaas has extended and you will consider yourself to be in the state of Nifaas until the bleeding stops completely or it exceeds forty days.

 

There is no Qadha for the Salaahs that you had missed during this period. However, if Nifaas occurred during Ramadaan, Qadha must be made for the missed fasts. (Raddul Muhtar, Vol: 1, Pg: 228-229 & 299)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Mufti Moosa Salie

Confirmation:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Fatwa Department

Jamiatul Ulama (KZN)

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What is the Nifaas (post-natal bleeding) period for a woman after childbirth?

 

Q. I am a mother of 3 children Alhamdulillah. The Nifaas period for the 1^st child was 40 days, for the second child 25 days and for the 3^rd child 41 days. How many days is my Nifaas period now?

 

(Question published as received)

 

A. The maximum period of Nifaas (lochia/post-natal bleeding) is 40 days whilst there is no minimum limit. If the bleeding of Nifaas exceeds the limit of 40 days, then one will revert to one’s previous habit.

 

In the enquired case, the bleeding of Nifaas exceeded the limit of 40 days and therefore, you will revert to your previous habit of 25 days. As such, it is necessary to make Qadha of the Salaahs, fasts etc. not observed after the 25th day. (Hidaayah 1/35)

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

 

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

 

Confirmation:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai

 

(The answer hereby given is specifically based on the question asked and should be read together with the question asked. Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh unless otherwise stated.) 

 

 

Fatwa Department
Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) 
Council of Muslim Theologians