When Can I Resume Praying After a Post-Natal Bleeding?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

My post-natal bleeding stopped before 40 days and I resumed praying. After a few days, but again before 40 days, the blood came back. Should I stop praying again at this point?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

Yes, a lady would be expected to wait until the blood ends a second time before bathing and subsequently praying and fasting. If the bleeding exceeds forty days, she would begin praying and fasting as the blood would be considered irregular (istihada). This is in the case of a first child. As for a lady with a post-natal bleeding habit, she would return to her habit in the case that blood goes beyond forty days, and make up the missed prayers and fast accordingly.

Please also see: Questions About Post-Natal Bleeding and Birth Control

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

wassalam,
[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.