Mishkat al-Masabih 561

Ḥamna daughter of Jaḥsh said: ‘I suffered from very heavy, severe bleeding, so I went to the Prophet to ask for a ruling. I found him in the house of my sister Zaynab daughter of Jaḥsh and said, “Messenger of Allah, I have very heavy, severe bleeding. What do you instruct me to do? It has kept me from prayer and fasting.” He said, “I suggest that you use cotton, for it will stop the blood.” I replied, “It is more than that.” He said, “Then bind a cloth around yourself.” I replied, “It is more than that.” He said, “Then use a garment.” I replied, “It is more than that; it gushes continuously.”’

The Prophet said: ‘I will instruct you in two courses of action; whichever you follow will suffice in place of the other. If you are able to do both, you know best.’ He then said to her: ‘This is a stroke from Satan. Count six or seven days as your menstrual period—Allah knows which it should be—then perform a ritual bath. When you see that you are pure and cleansed, pray for twenty-three or twenty-four nights and their days, and fast and pray. That will suffice you. Do this each month, as women menstruate and become pure according to the length of their menstrual and pure periods.’

‘If you are able to delay the noon prayer and bring forward the afternoon prayer, then perform a ritual bath and combine the noon and afternoon prayers, do so. Delay the sunset prayer and bring forward the night prayer, then perform a ritual bath and combine those two prayers; do so. Perform a ritual bath at dawn as well, and fast if you are able.’ The Messenger of Allah said, ‘This is the more pleasing of the two courses to me.’ Aḥmad, Abū Dāwūd, and al-Tirmidhī transmitted it. (Graded ḥasan.)