1/112. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 284 — Counting Normal Menstrual Days
When The Menstruation Starts She Should Leave The Prayer
Istihadah Hadith: Count Normal Menstrual Days Before Prayer
Sunan Abi Dawud : 284
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 284
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَقِيلٍ، عَنْ بُهَيَّةَ، قَالَتْ سَمِعْتُ امْرَأَةً، تَسْأَلُ عَائِشَةَ عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ، فَسَدَ حَيْضُهَا وَأُهَرِيقَتْ دَمًا فَأَمَرَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ آمُرَهَا فَلْتَنْظُرْ قَدْرَ مَا كَانَتْ تَحِيضُ فِي كُلِّ شَهْرٍ وَحَيْضُهَا مُسْتَقِيمٌ فَلْتَعْتَدَّ بِقَدْرِ ذَلِكَ مِنَ الأَيَّامِ ثُمَّ لْتَدَعِ الصَّلاَةَ فِيهِنَّ أَوْ بِقَدْرِهِنَّ ثُمَّ لْتَغْتَسِلْ ثُمَّ لْتَسْتَثْفِرْ بِثَوْبٍ ثُمَّ لْتُصَلِّي .
A'isha Narrated from:
Bahiyyah said: I heard a woman asking Aisha about the woman whose menses became abnormal and she had an issue of blood. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked me to advise her that she should consider the period during which she used to menstruate every month, when her menstruation was normal. Then she should count the days equal to the length of time (of her normal menses); then she should abandon prayer during those days or equal to that period. She should then take a bath, tie a cloth on her private parts a pray.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 284In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 284English translation : Book 1, Hadith 284
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 284
This hadith about abnormal menses gives a practical method for a woman whose bleeding changed and became continuous. A woman asked Aishah about this condition, and Aishah said the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم told her to advise the woman to look at the period in which she used to menstruate each month when her cycle was normal. She should count the same number of days, leave prayer during that time, then take a bath, tie a cloth, and pray. This istihadah hadith is especially useful because it gives step-by-step guidance from the text itself. It does not tell her to stop prayer forever. It points her back to her regular menstrual pattern, then to purification and prayer.
What we learn from this hadith
- A woman with changed bleeding may look back to her normal monthly menses.
- Prayer is left for the number of days equal to that known period.
- Taking a bath is mentioned before returning to prayer.
- Using a cloth is mentioned as a practical step before praying.
