1/119. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 304 — Recognizing Menstrual Blood
Those Who Said: She Should Perform Wudu' For Evey Prayer
Hadith About Istihadah: Recognizing Menstrual Blood
Sunan Abi Dawud : 304
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 304
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَمْرٍو - حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ فَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ أَبِي حُبَيْشٍ، أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ تُسْتَحَاضُ فَقَالَ لَهَا النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا كَانَ دَمُ الْحَيْضِ فَإِنَّهُ دَمٌ أَسْوَدُ يُعْرَفُ فَإِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ فَأَمْسِكِي عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ فَإِذَا كَانَ الآخَرُ فَتَوَضَّئِي وَصَلِّي " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى وَحَدَّثَنَا بِهِ ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ حِفْظًا فَقَالَ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّ فَاطِمَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَرُوِيَ عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ وَشُعْبَةَ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ الْعَلاَءُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَوْقَفَهُ شُعْبَةُ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ تَوَضَّأُ لِكُلِّ صَلاَةٍ .
`Urwa bin Az-Zubair Narrated from:
Fatimah daughter of Abu Hubaish had a prolonged flow of blood. The Prophet (ﷺ) said to her: When the blood of menses comes, it is black blood with can be recognized; so when that comes, refrain from prayer, but when a different type comes, perform ablution and pray.Abu Dawud said: Ibn al-Muthanna said: Ibn 'Adi narrated this tradition from his memory on the authority of 'Urwah from 'Aishah. Abu Dawud said: This tradition has also been transmitted by al-'Ala b. al-Musayyab and Shu'bah from al-Hakam on the authority of Abu Ja'far. Al-'Ala reported it as a statement of the Prophet (ﷺ), and Shu'bah as a statement of Abu Ja'far, saying: She should perform ablution for every prayer.
[1] This narration preceded with this chain under number 286, but with the remainder of the wording: “...for that is only from a vein.”Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 304In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 304English translation : Book 1, Hadith 304
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 304
This Hadith is one of the clearest reports about distinguishing menses from istihadah. Fatimah bint Abi Hubaish had prolonged bleeding, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told her that menstrual blood is black and recognizable. When that blood appears, she should refrain from prayer. When the blood is of another type, she should perform wudu and pray. The Hadith does not speak in general guesses; it gives a sign mentioned in the report and then links it to prayer. It helps readers searching for hadith about istihadah, menstrual blood, and wudu understand that the text separates recognized menses from other bleeding. The answer is short, but it gives a clear action for each kind of blood.
What we learn from this hadith
- Recognizable menstrual blood is treated differently from other bleeding.
- Prayer is left when the menstrual blood mentioned in the report appears.
- When the bleeding is different, the instruction is to make wudu and pray.
