3. Purification

عَن أنس: إِنَّ الْيَهُودَ كَانُوا إِذَا حَاضَتِ الْمَرْأَةُ فِيهِمْ لَمْ يُؤَاكِلُوهَا وَلَمْ يُجَامِعُوهُنَّ فِي الْبُيُوتِ فَسَأَلَ أَصْحَاب النَّبِي صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى (ويسألونك عَن الْمَحِيض قُلْ هُوَ أَذًى فَاعْتَزِلُوا النِّسَاءَ فِي الْمَحِيضِ) الْآيَة. فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ الْيَهُودَ. فَقَالُوا: مَا يُرِيدُ هَذَا الرَّجُلُ أَنْ يَدَعَ مِنْ أَمْرِنَا شَيْئًا إِلَّا خَالَفَنَا فِيهِ فَجَاءَ أُسَيْدُ بْنُ حَضَيْرٍ وَعَبَّادُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ فَقَالَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ الْيَهُودَ تَقُولُ كَذَا وَكَذَا أَفَلَا نُجَامِعُهُنَّ؟ فَتَغَيَّرَ وَجْهُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتَّى ظَنَنَّا أَنْ قَدْ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِمَا. فَخَرَجَا فَاسْتَقْبَلَتْهُمَا هَدِيَّةٌ مِنْ لَبَنٍ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَرْسَلَ فِي آثَارِهِمَا فَسَقَاهُمَا فعرفا أَن لم يجد عَلَيْهِمَا. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Anas said that among the Jews, when a woman menstruated, they did not eat with her, and they did not live with such in their houses, so the Prophet's companions questioned him, and God revealed, "And they ask you about menstruation..." God’s messenger then said, “Do everything except sexual intercourse.” The Jews heard of that and said, “This man does not want to leave anything we do without opposing us in it.” Usaid b. Hudair and ‘Abbad b. Bishr came and said, ‘Messenger of God, the Jews are saying such and such. Shall we not then live with them?”* The face of God’s messenger underwent such a change that we thought he was angry with them; but when they went out they were met by a gift of milk which was being brought to the Prophet, and he sent after them and gave them a drink, whereby they knew that he was not angry with them. *i.e. with our wives. The word used in this tradition ordinarily refers to sexual intercourse, but it would seem that here and in the first sentence it rather expresses the idea being beside their wives during their periods. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن عَائِشَة قَالَتْ: كُنْتُ أَغْتَسِلُ أَنَا وَالنَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ إِنَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ وَكِلَانَا جُنُبٌ وَكَانَ يَأْمُرُنِي فَأَتَّزِرُ فَيُبَاشِرُنِي وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ وَكَانَ يُخْرِجُ رَأْسَهُ إِلَيَّ وَهُوَ مُعْتَكِفٌ فَأَغْسِلُهُ وَأَنَا حَائِض

‘A'isha said, “The Prophet and I used to wash from one vessel when we were both sexually defiled. When I was menstruating he would order me to wrap myself up and would embrace me. And when he was observing prayer in seclusion, he would put out his head for me and I would wash it when I was menstruating. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كُنْتُ أَشْرَبُ وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ ثُمَّ أُنَاوِلُهُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَيَضَعُ فَاهُ عَلَى مَوْضِعٍ فِيَّ فَيَشْرَبُ وَأَتَعَرَّقُ الْعَرْقَ وَأَنَا حَائِضٌ ثُمَّ أُنَاوِلُهُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم فَيَضَع فَاه على مَوضِع فِي. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

She also said, “I would drink when I was menstruating, then hand it to the Prophet, and he would put his mouth where mine had been and drink; and I would eat flesh from a bone when I was menstruating, then hand it to the Prophet, and he would put his mouth where mine had been.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يتكئ على حجري وَأَنا حَائِض ثمَّ يقْرَأ الْقُرْآن

She also said, “The Prophet would recline on my lap when I was menstruating, then recite the Qur'an.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ: قَالَ لِي النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «نَاوِلِينِي الْخُمْرَةَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ» . فَقُلْتُ: إِنِّي حَائِضٌ فَقَالَ: «إِنَّ حَيْضَتَكِ لَيْسَتْ فِي يدك» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

The Prophet said to me, “Get me the mat from the mosque,” and when I replied that I was menstruating, he said, “Your menstruation is not in your hand.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ مَيْمُونَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي فِي مِرْطٍ بَعْضُهُ عَلَيَّ وَبَعْضُهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَنا حَائِض

Maimuna said, “God’s messenger used to pray in a woollen garment which was partly over him and partly over me while I was mentruat- ing.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ أَتَى حَائِضًا أَوِ امْرَأَةً فِي دُبُرِهَا أَوْ كَاهِنًا فَقَدْ كَفَرَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ وَفِي رِوَايَتِهِمَا: «فَصَدَّقَهُ بِمَا يَقُولُ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ» وَقَالَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ: لَا نَعْرِفُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ إِلَّا من حَدِيث حَكِيم الْأَثْرَم عَن أبي تَيْمِية عَن أبي هُرَيْرَة

“If anyone has intercourse with a woman who is menstruating, or uses preposterous venery with a woman1, or visits a kahin, he has disbelieved in what has been sent down to Muhammad.” Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it. In the version of the last two he declared him to be right in saying that he has disbelieved. Tirmidhi said, “We know this tradition only from Hakim al-Athram from Abu Tamima from Abu Huraira.” 1: i.e. enters her from her behind.

وَعَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُول الله مَا تحل لِي مِنِ امْرَأَتِي وَهِيَ حَائِضٌ؟ قَالَ: «مَا فَوْقَ الْإِزَارِ وَالتَّعَفُّفُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ أَفْضَلُ» . رَوَاهُ رَزِينٌ وَقَالَ مُحْيِي السُّنَّةِ: إِسْنَادُهُ لَيْسَ بِقَوِيٍّ

Mu'adh b. Jabal said that he asked God’s messenger what was lawful for him in his wife when she was menstruating, and he replied, “What is above the waist-wrapper, but to abstain from that is better.” Razin transmitted it and Muhyi as-Sunna said that its insad is not strong.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِذَا وَقَعَ الرَّجُلُ بِأَهْلِهِ وَهِيَ حَائِضٌ فَلْيَتَصَدَّقْ بِنِصْفِ دِينَارٍ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد النَّسَائِيّ والدارمي وَابْن مَاجَه

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s messenger as saying, “When a man has intercourse with his wife while she is menstruating, he must give half a dinar in alms.’ Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Darimi and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِذَا كَانَ دَمًا أَحْمَرَ فَدِينَارٌ وَإِذَا كَانَ دَمًا أَصْفَرَ فَنِصْفُ دِينَارٍ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

He also reported that the Prophet said, “When there is red blood he must give a dinar and when there is yellow blood half a dinar.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

عَن زيد بن أسلم قَالَ: أَنَّ رَجُلًا سَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَ: مَا يَحِلُّ لِي مِنَ امْرَأَتِي وَهِيَ حَائِضٌ؟ فَقَالَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «تَشُدُّ عَلَيْهَا إِزَارَهَا ثُمَّ شَأْنُكَ بِأَعْلَاهَا» . رَوَاهُ مَالِكٌ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ مُرْسلا

Zaid b. Aslam said that a man asked God’s messenger what was lawful for him in his wife when she was menstruating, and he replied, “She should tie her waist-wrapper on her, then you can do what you like above it.” Malik and Darimi transmitted it in mursal form.

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: كُنْتُ إِذَا حِضْتُ نَزَلْتُ عَن الْمِثَال على الْحَصِير فَلم نقرب رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَلَمْ ندن مِنْهُ حَتَّى نطهر. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

‘A'isha said, “When I menstruated I left the bed and lay on the reed-mat and did not approach or come near God’s messenger till I was purified.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: جَاءَتْ فَاطِمَةُ بِنْتُ أَبِي حُبَيْشٍ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي امْرَأَةٌ أُسْتَحَاضُ فَلَا أطهر أفأدع الصَّلَاة فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا إِنَّمَا ذَلِكِ عِرْقٌ وَلَيْسَ بِحَيْضٍ فَإِذَا أَقْبَلَتْ حَيْضَتُكِ فَدَعِي الصَّلَاةَ وَإِذَا أَدْبَرَتْ فَاغْسِلِي عَنْك الدَّم ثمَّ صلي»

‘A'isha told of Fatima daughter of Abu Hubaish coming to the Prophet and saying, “I am a woman whose blood keeps flowing, and I am never purified; Shall I therefore abandon prayer?” He replied, “No that is only a vein and is not menstruation; so when your menstrua­ tion comes on abandon prayer, and when it ends wash the blood from yourself and then pray.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ عَنْ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ أَبِي حُبَيْشٍ: أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ تُسْتَحَاضُ فَقَالَ لَهَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " إِذَا كَانَ دم الْحيض فَإِنَّهُ دم أسود يعرف فَأَمْسِكِي عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فَإِذَا كَانَ الْآخَرُ فَتَوَضَّئِي وَصَلِّي فَإِنِّمَا هُوَ عِرْقٌ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيّ

‘Urwa b. az-Zubair reported from Fatima daughter of Abu Hubaish that her blood kept flowing, so the Prophet said to her, “When the blood of the menses comes it is black blood which can be recognised, so when that comes refrain from prayer; but when a different type comes perform ablution any pray, for it is due only to a vein.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَن أم سَلمَة: إِنَّ امْرَأَةً كَانَتْ تُهْرَاقُ الدَّمَ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَاسْتَفْتَتْ لَهَا أم سَلمَة رَسُول الله صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم فَقَالَ: «لِتَنْظُرْ عَدَدَ اللَّيَالِي وَالْأَيَّامِ الَّتِي كَانَتْ تَحِيضُهُنَّ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُصِيبَهَا الَّذِي أَصَابَهَا فَلْتَتْرُكِ الصَّلَاةَ قَدْرَ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الشَّهْرِ فَإِذَا خلفت ذَلِك فلتغتسل ثمَّ لتستثفر بِثَوْب ثمَّ لتصل» . رَوَاهُ مَالك وَأَبُو دَاوُد والدارمي وروى النَّسَائِيّ مَعْنَاهُ

Umm Salama said that in the time of God’s messenger there was a woman who had an issue of blood, so Umm Salama asked the Prophet to give a decision about her. He said, “She should consider the number of nights and days during which she used to menstruate each month before she was afflicted with this trouble and abandon prayer during that period each month; then when she finishes that she should wash, tie a cloth over her private parts and pray.” Malik, Abu Dawud and Darimi transmitted it, and Nasa’i transmitted something to the same effect;

وَعَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ - قَالَ يَحْيَى بْنُ مَعِينٍ: جَدُّ عَدِيٍّ اسْمُهُ دِينَارٌ - عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ فِي الْمُسْتَحَاضَةِ: «تَدَعُ الصَّلَاةَ أَيَّامَ أَقْرَائِهَا الَّتِي كَانَتْ تَحِيضُ فِيهَا ثُمَّ تَغْتَسِلُ وَتَتَوَضَّأُ عِنْدَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ وَتَصُومُ وَتُصَلِّي» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد

‘Adi b. Thabit quoted his father as saying that his grandfather (‘Adi's grandfather’s name is given as Dinar by Yahya b. Ma'in) reported the Prophet as saying regarding a woman who has a prolonged flow of blood that she should abandon prayer during as many days as she used to have her courses, then wash, perform ablution for every prayer, fast and pray. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَن حمْنَة بنت جحش قَالَتْ: كُنْتُ أُسْتَحَاضُ حَيْضَةً كَثِيرَةً شَدِيدَةً فَأَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَسْتَفْتِيهِ وَأُخْبِرُهُ فَوَجَدْتُهُ فِي بَيْتِ أُخْتِي زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ جَحْشٍ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي أُسْتَحَاضُ حَيْضَةً كَثِيرَةً شَدِيدَةً فَمَا تَأْمُرُنِي فِيهَا؟ قَدْ مَنَعَتْنِي الصَّلَاةَ وَالصِّيَامَ. قَالَ: «أَنْعَتُ لَكِ الْكُرْسُفَ فَإِنَّهُ يُذْهِبُ الدَّمَ» . قَالَتْ: هُوَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ: «فَتَلَجَّمِي» قَالَتْ هُوَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. قَالَ: «فَاتَّخِذِي ثَوْبًا» قَالَتْ هُوَ أَكْثَرُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ إِنَّمَا أَثُجُّ ثَجًّا. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «سَآمُرُكِ بِأَمْرَيْنِ أَيَّهُمَا صَنَعْتِ أَجَزَأَ عَنْكِ مِنَ الْآخَرِ وَإِنْ قَوِيتِ عَلَيْهِمَا فَأَنت أعلم» فَقَالَ لَهَا: " إِنَّمَا هَذِهِ رَكْضَةٌ مِنْ رَكَضَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ فتحيضي سِتَّة أَيَّام أَو سَبْعَة أَيَّام فِي عِلْمِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ اغْتَسِلِي حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَيْتِ أَنَّكِ قَدْ طَهُرْتِ وَاسْتَنْقَأْتِ فَصَلِّي ثَلَاثًا وَعِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً أَوْ أَرْبَعًا وَعِشْرِينَ لَيْلَةً وَأَيَّامَهَا وصومي وَصلي فَإِن ذَلِك يجزئك وَكَذَلِكَ فافعلي كَمَا تَحِيضُ النِّسَاءُ وَكَمَا يَطْهُرْنَ مِيقَاتُ حَيْضِهِنَّ وَطُهْرِهِنَّ وَإِنْ قَوِيتِ عَلَى أَنْ تُؤَخِّرِينَ الظُّهْرَ وتعجليين الْعَصْر فتغتسلين وتجمعين الصَّلَاتَيْنِ: الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ وَتُؤَخِّرِينَ الْمَغْرِبَ وَتُعَجِّلِينَ الْعِشَاءَ ثُمَّ تَغْتَسِلِينَ وَتَجْمَعِينَ بَيْنَ الصَّلَاتَيْنِ فَافْعَلِي وَتَغْتَسِلِينَ مَعَ الْفَجْرِ فَافْعَلِي وَصُومِي إِنْ قَدَرْتِ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ". فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «وَهَذَا أَعْجَبُ الْأَمْرَيْنِ إِلَيَّ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدَ وَأَبُو دَاوُد وَالتِّرْمِذِيّ

Hamna daughter of Jahsh said that her menstruation was great in quantity and severe, so she went to the Prophet for a decision and told him. She found him in the house of her sister Zainab daughter of Jahsh and said, “Messenger of God, I menstruate to a great extent, and it is severe, so what command do you give me about it? It has prevented me from praying and fasting.” He said, “I suggest that you use cotton, for it removes the blood.” She replied, “It is too copious for that.” He said, “Then stop it with a tight rag.” She replied, “It is too copious for that.” He said, “Then take a cloth.” She replied, “It is too copious for that, for my blood keeps flowing.” So the Prophet said, “I shall give you two commands; whichever of them you follow, it will make the other unnecessary, but you will know best whether you are strong enough to follow both of them This is a stroke of the devil, so observe your menses for six or seven days, God alone knowing which it should be, then wash, and when you see that you are purified and quite clean pray during twenty-three or twenty-four days and nights and fast, for that will be enough for you, and do so every month, just as women menstruate and are purified at the time of their menstruation and their purification. But if you are strong enough to delay the noon prayer and advance the afternoon prayer, then wash and combine the noon and the afternoon prayer; to delay the sunset prayer and advance the night prayer, then wash and combine the two prayers, do so; and to wash at drawn, do so; and fast if you are able.” God’s messenger said, “This is the one which is more attractive to me.” Ahmad, Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it.

عَن أَسمَاء بنت عُمَيْس قَالَتْ: قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتَ أَبِي حُبَيْشٍ اسْتُحِيضَتْ مُنْذُ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَلَمْ تُصَلِّ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ هَذَا مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ لِتَجْلِسَ فِي مِرْكَنٍ فَإِذَا رَأَتْ صُفَارَةً فَوْقَ الْمَاءِ فَلْتَغْتَسِلْ لِلظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ غُسْلًا وَاحِدًا وَتَغْتَسِلْ لِلْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ غُسْلًا وَاحِدًا وَتَغْتَسِلْ لِلْفَجْرِ غُسْلًا وَاحِدًا وَتَوَضَّأُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَقَالَ: رَوَى مُجَاهِدٌ عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: لَمَّا اشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهَا الْغُسْلُ أَمَرَهَا أَنْ تَجْمَعَ بَيْنَ الصَّلَاتَيْنِ

Asma’ daughter of ‘Umais said she told God’s messenger that Fatima daughter of Abu Hubaish had had a flow of blood for a certain period and had not prayed. God’s messenger said, “Glory be to God! This comes from the devil. She should sit in a tub, and when she sees yellowness appearing on the top of the water she should wash once for the noon and afternoon prayer, once for the sunset and night prayer, once for the dawn prayer, and in between times she should perform ablution.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, saying Mujahid transmitted from Ibn ‘Abbas that when the washing became too much for her be ordered her to combine the two prayers.