If you have heavy bleeding that is non-menstual should you pray?
Islam makes a clear distinction between ḥayḍ (menstrual bleeding) and istiḥāḍah (irregular or non-menstrual bleeding). If the bleeding is istiḥāḍah, even if it is very heavy, the rulings of menstruation do not apply. This means that prayer, fasting, and other acts of worship remain obligatory.
Fāṭimah bint Abī Ḥubaysh (may Allah be pleased with her) once suffered from istiḥāḍah and asked the Prophet ﷺ about it. He said:
«إِنَّمَا ذَلِكِ عِرْقٌ، وَلَيْسَ بِالْحَيْضَةِ، فَإِذَا أَقْبَلَتْ حَيْضَتُكِ فَدَعِي الصَّلَاةَ، وَإِذَا أَدْبَرَتْ فَاغْسِلِي عَنْكِ الدَّمَ، ثُمَّ صَلِّي»
“Rather, it is only a vein, not menstruation. So when your menses begins, leave the prayer, and when it ends, wash the blood from yourself and then pray.”
(Al-Bukhārī and Muslim)
This hadith makes it clear that istiḥāḍah does not prevent prayer.
Practical steps before prayer
If you are experiencing istiḥāḍah, you are obliged to pray. Before praying:
• Clean yourself as best you can.
• Use a fresh pad before each prayer to reduce leakage.
• If you are worried about staining, adjust your posture in prayer.
• Do wuḍū’ (ablution) at the time of each prayer. Many scholars say this wuḍū’ is valid until that prayer time ends.
How to tell the difference between ḥayḍ and istiḥāḍah
1. Usual habit (ʿādah): If bleeding fits within your normal days of menstruation, it is ḥayḍ. If it goes beyond your habit, it may be istiḥāḍah.
2. Signs of the blood:
• Ḥayḍ blood is usually darker, thicker, and has a stronger smell.
• Istiḥāḍah blood tends to be lighter, thinner, and without odour.
3. Maximum duration:
• In the Ḥanafī school, ḥayḍ cannot last more than 10 days.
• In the Shāfiʿī, Mālikī, and Ḥanbalī schools, the maximum is 15 days.
• Anything beyond that is istiḥāḍah.
4. Minimum gap: In the Ḥanafī view, there must be at least 15 days between two menstrual periods. Bleeding within that gap is istiḥāḍah.
5. Age factor: Menstruation only applies during fertile years. Bleeding before puberty or after menopause is not ḥayḍ.
Special case: HRT and post-menopause bleeding
If a woman has reached menopause and no longer menstruates, then any spotting or bleeding that occurs, whether naturally or due to medication such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is not ḥayḍ. It is classed as istiḥāḍah, even if it looks like a period. She must therefore continue praying and fasting, while keeping clean as described above.
Rulings according to the Four Schools of Thought
All four schools of law agree that istiḥāḍah does not prevent prayer. They differ slightly on the details:
• The Shāfiʿī and Ḥanbalī schools require a fresh wuḍū’ for each prayer time. i.e. the fard, sunnah and nawafil. If she wants to pray more nawafil after a gap, she would have to make fresh wudu.
• The Ḥanafī school allows one wuḍū’ per prayer time to also be used for any other voluntary prayers until the next obligatory prayer.
• A woman in istiḥāḍah is considered maʿdhūr (excused). She should do her best within her ability, remembering that Allah says: “Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear” (Qur’an 2:286).
In summary
• Ḥayḍ (menstrual bleeding): prayer is not performed until it ends.
• Istiḥāḍah (irregular bleeding): prayer remains compulsory, even if heavy.
Clean yourself, and use a fresh pad.
Perform wuḍū’ at each prayer time.
• Post-menopause bleeding or spotting from HRT: always classed as istiḥāḍah, so prayer is required.