Is My Calculation of Menstruation Correct?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I am trying to identify my menstrual period (as my recent bleeding went over ten days) and be sure whether my habits (menstrual and purity) are going to change this month (so that I can work out when to expect my next menstruation). Summary of the situation: 1. Had eight days, 23 hours, and 29 mins long menstrual period from 20:07 on 27/04/2023 to ~19:36 on 06/05/2023 (this includes 15 mins for ghusl). This came after 23 days, 2 hours, and 26 mins of purity/actual tuhr. 2. Taking the above as my habit, I expected my next menstrual period from 22:02 on 29/05/2023 to 21:31 on 07/06/2023. 3. Instead, I experienced actual tuhr for only 21 days, 1 hour and 47 mins and had on/off bleeding from 21:23 on 27/05/2023 to 19:56 on 07/06/2023 (10 days, 22 hours and 33 mins).
I have been relying on two books by Sh Hedaya Hartford (Coming of Age & Birgivi’s Manual Interpreted).
Based on what I’ve read and similar examples, I worked out that:
– Only the bleeding that occurred within my habit counts as menstruation (that was eight days,21 hours & 54 mins); adding 15 mins ghusl time to this gives me eight days,22 hours & 9 mins (total duration of my menstrual period) which thus ended at 20:11 on Wed 07/06/2023? Am I correct in adding ghusl time here?
– My menstrual habit remains as eight days,23 hours & 29 mins
– My tuhr habit also remains as 23 days,2 hours & 26 mins
Please correct me if I’m wrong or if I’ve missed anything. I also find when to add/not add ghusl time to my menstruation particularly confusing.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
Your calculation is correct. You don’t have to add your ghusl time to your period time.
Also, I would like to add ‘Woman’s Guide to Menstruation Rulings’ by Naielah Ackbarali. See the link below.
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.
Advice
It is obligatory for every woman to record her menses, lochia, and purity habits. The date and time any vaginal blood begins, including the spotting of blood, and the date and time any vaginal blood ends.
I advise contacting a local reliable female scholar who is well-versed in menstruation matters. Also, try to attend any on-the-ground and online courses on menstruation. Also, at your first instance, buy books related to the topic; some are in the link below.
It is a personal obligation (fard) for every adult woman to learn the basic rules of menstruation and to ask, as you’ve done, in the case of a complicated or unique situation). The books, Woman’s Guide to Menstruation Rulings by Naielah Ackbarali and Coming of Age by Ustadha Hedaya Hartford are very accessible books to learn these rulings. They are in English and have many practical examples, life experiences, and even illustrative charts to calculate menstruation.
Also, you can download a first-ever menstruation period tracking app, which is personalized for Muslim women to understand menses, purity, irregular bleeding, lochia, etc., at first glance! Get The app is in harmony with religious scholarship.
Related Answers
- Menstruation: A Comprehensive Reader – SeekersGuidance
- A Muslim Woman’s Guide To Menstruation Rulings: Amazon.co.uk: Ackbarali, Naielah(Recommended book)
- Coming of Age by Hedaya Hartford (Recommended book)
- myhayd.app | First Ever Islamic Period Tracking App Personalized For Muslim Women | Hayd Tuhr Istihadah Nifaas Pregnancy
- FREE Fiqh of Menstruation Video Series
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
