Could a Bleeding Due to Surgery Prevent a Woman From Fasting and Praying?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum,

If a woman is bleeding vaginally as a result of a surgical procedure is she still obliged to fast and pray?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

I pray that you are well, insha’Allah.

Yes, you are still obligated to pray and fast because blood which exits through the vagina due to a wound is not considered to be menstruation (hayd). [Bukhari, al-Muhit al-Burhani; Ibn `Abidin, Manhal al-Waridin min Bihar al-Fayd `ala Dhukhr al-Muta’ahhilin fi Masa’il al-Hayd]

Menstrual blood is that which exits from the uterus through the vagina of a female at least nine lunar years old (eight solar years, eight months and three weeks.) [Hartford/Muneeb, Birgivi’s Manual Interpreted]

في المحيط البرهاني: وشرعا: اسم لدم دون دم، فإنها: اسم لدم خارج من رحم المرأة، فأما الخارج من فرج المرأة دون الرحم فهو استحاضة وليس بحيض شرعا اهـ.
وفي منهل الواردين لابن عابدين: قوله: (دم صادر من رحم) … احترز به عن الاستحاضة لأنها دم عرق انفجر لا دم رحم وعن دم الرعاف والجرح اهـ.

And Allah alone knows best.

Tabraze Azam

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani