| Q1. | Besides blood, urine, alcohol, etc. what other major impurities are there which you should be aware of? |
| A1. | Menstrual flow (Haiz), blood from childbirth (Nifas) and blood discharge (Istihaza). |
| Q2. | What happens if these impurities are discharged from your body? |
| A2. | The Wudu and Ghusl will break. |
| Q1. | What is (Haiz) or menstruation? |
| A1. | When a female becomes a teenager, the blood that comes out from her private part (vagina) on a fixed time basis is known as menstruation or period (Haiz). A menstruating woman is not considered dirty or sinful, as is the case in some other religions and cultures. It is natural and normal for every girl from about nine to sixteen years of age to start menstruating. Another word for menstruation is “period”. A female usually has a period every 28 days (once a month), but this cycle often varies from about 25 to 35 days, women have different patterns. A menstrual period usually lasts between three and six days, but may be a day or two longer. When one starts having periods they are often rather irregular. One may have one and then not have another for a few months. After a while they will probably settle down. Use a diary to mark down the days when one has one’s period over the next six months and one may begin to see a pattern. A female should be able to work out the average length of time between periods, which will help her to know when to expect them. Once a female starts menstruating she is physically capable of having a baby. The cycle is repeated over and over again until about 54 years of age. |
| Q2. | At what age does menstruation begin? |
| A2. | Menstruation or period begins when you are at least nine years old. It ends when a woman is about fifty-five years old. |
| Q3. | What happens just before a period? |
| A3. | You may feel tense and irritable just before a period. Some girls feel tired and are unable to concentrate. Some feel weepy and depressed. Some girls get angry. It is normal to feel tired or even dizzy when your period is just starting or is at its heaviest. This is known as “PMS” or “Pre-menstrual syndrome”. |
| Q4. | Are you sick when you have a period? |
| A4. | Definitely not. It is normal for all females to have them. Some girls get abdominal cramps, or a headache, or feel a little bloated at the beginning of a period, but this is perfectly normal and will disappear in a day or two. Period pains can be worse if you are worried and tense. Some girls try to hold on to the blood flow because they are worried about soiling their clothes. |
| Q5. | How can you prevent your clothes from getting soiled when you have your periods? |
| A5. | There are special soft, absorbent pads (sanitary towels), which fit on the inside of your panties, called sanitary pads. They absorb the blood. You can also use tampons, which are inserted into the vagina. If your blood flow is very heavy, you may find that a little blood leaks around the edges, so it can help to wear darker colored pants, which won’t show the blood. Sometimes you will need to change your pads two or three times a day, but if it is heavy you will have to change every couple of hours. |
| Q6. | What can you do if you have period pains? |
| A6. | The best thing to do is relax, preferably in a warm place. If you are at home, curling up under the duvet with a hot water bottle and relaxing for a while can help. Some schools have a sick room to sit in or you can take a painkiller to help you relax. |
| Q7. | What are the colors of menstruation? |
| A7. | A period generally begins and ends with a slight, brownish discharge. In between, the blood becomes redder and the flow heavier. There are six colors of menstruation: black, red, green, yellow, brown and clayey. The white discharge is not menstruation. |
| Q8. | How long does menstruation last? |
| A8. | The time period for menstruation is at least three days and three nights, meaning a full seventy-two hours. The maximum is ten days and ten nights. Periods generally start light and are heavier for just a couple of days. |
| Q9. | What is (Istihaza)? |
| A9. | (Istihaza) is the blood that is discharged due to some illness. |
| Q10. | If the blood is discharged before the age of nine years, is it regarded as Haiz or not? |
| A10. | No. It is called Istihaza. |
| Q11. | What happens if the blood stops just less than seventy-two hours? |
| A11. | Then, it is not a period but Istihaza. |
| Q12. | What happens if the blood flows for more than ten days? |
| A12. | If this is the first instance that blood is discharged, then for the ten days it is regarded as menstruation and the rest it is Istihaza. |
| Q13. | What happens in a case if the usual time for menstruation is five days, but the blood is discharged for ten days? Would all these days be regarded as menstruation or not? |
| A13. | All the days are recognized as menstruation. |
| Q14. | What happens in a case if the usual time for menstruation is five days, but the blood is discharged for twelve days? Would all these days be regarded as menstruation or not? |
| A14. | The first five days is menstruation and the other seven is Istihaza. |
| Q15. | What happens if there is no regular pattern in the menstrual cycle, for example, sometimes the blood is discharged for four days and sometimes for five days? |
| A15. | Whatever amount of days was the last period, this will be counted on this occasion. It is not necessary that blood continue to be discharged all the time. If it starts and stops it is still recognized as menstruation. |
| Q16. | Can you miss your period? |
| A16. | Yes. You can also miss your period if you lose a lot of weight, are very stressed (for example, before exams), when traveling or during a family crisis, or if you are regularly involved in strenuous physical activity (for example, if you are an athlete) or hardworking. |
| Q17. | What must you do with the pads that you used? |
| A17. | You must dispose of it immediately and not store it under the bed or in the cupboard. Wrap them up well in paper and put them in the nearest bin. Only flush pads in the toilet as a last resort. Try to avoid this as it can clog the system. |
| Q18. | What other changes take place in a girl’s body? |
| A18. | In the year or two before your periods start, you will have become aware of changes in your body. You will become more aware of your body. At the start of puberty, a girl often starts to grow very suddenly, both in height and weight. Her face becomes fuller, and her voice a little lower. Her breasts start to develop and pubic and underarm hair starts to grow. She will find that she perspires much more than she used to. If you are having any worries about periods or changes that are happening to your body, it helps if there is someone to talk to. Talk to your mother, an older sister, aunt or madressa teacher. You should not be ashamed or embarrassed to consult with them. |
| Q1. | What is (Nifas)? |
| A1. | Nifas is the blood that is discharged due to childbirth. |
| Q2. | What is the time period for Nifas? |
| A2. | The maximum time for Nifas is 40 days and nights. |
| Q3. | What happens if the blood is discharged for more than 40 days? |
| A3. | If this is the woman’s first child, the full 40 days and nights is regarded as Nifas. If she cannot remember how long the blood was discharged from a previous childbirth, then the full 40 days and nights is regarded as Nifas. If she bleeds for more than 40 days and nights, it will be Istihaza. |
| Q4. | What happens if the woman can remember the length of the last Nifas? |
| A4. | She must regard that number of days that she previously had bleeding as her Nifas and anything more than those days (as long as the total goes over forty days) as Istihaza. For example, if her habit for Nifas is 30 days and this time the bleeding was for 45 days, then the 30 days is Nifas and the rest is Istihaza. |
| Q5. | What happens if the woman bleeds for a few days and then the bleeding stops and continues after a few days? Will this still be taken as Nifas? |
| A5. | If at times the blood is discharged and sometimes it stops and continues again, it is still taken as Nifas as long as it is all within the 40 days.
Note: If a woman after childbirth stops bleeding before 40 days, she is to make Nifas Ghusal and start performing her Salaah and not wait until 40 days to perform Ghusal. This is a common mistake women make. |
| Q1. | Can one perform Salaah or keep fast during Haiz and Nifas? |
| A1. | It is Haraam to perform Salaah or keep fast whilst in Haiz or Nifas. When the Haiz or Nifas is completed, one must perform Ghusal without delay and offer your Salaah. |
| Q2. | Must one make Qada for the missed Salaah during Haiz and Nifas? |
| A2. | Salaah is forgiven in both these situations and there is no need to keep Qada for the missed Salaah. |
| Q3. | Must one make Qada for the missed fasts during Haiz and Nifas? |
| A3. | Yes. It is obligatory to keep the Qada of the fasts during both these situations. |
| Q4. | What should you do during the times of Salaah? |
| A4. | During the times of Salaah, you should perform Wudhu and recite the Durood Shareef or some other prayer for the duration of the Salaah. The reason for doing this is so that you will remain in the habit and not become lazy for Salaah or Ibaadah. |
| Q5. | Are you allowed to read the Holy Quran in Haiz or Nifas? |
| A5. | It is Haraam for you to recite the Holy Quran whether you look at it or recites it by heart. It is also Haraam for you to touch the Holy Quran, whether the whole of it or part of it. You are not even allowed to touch any verse with the tips of your fingers or any other part of the body. It is also Haraam for you to touch a piece of paper that has a verse of the Quran written on it. |
| Q6. | During Haiz and Nifas, what are you allowed to recite and what are you not allowed to recite? |
| A6. | It is Makrooh for you to recite the Du’a-e-Qunoot whilst in Haiz or Nifas. All other recitations, such as Tasbeehs, Du’as, Durood Shareefs, etc. are allowed without any problems except for the Holy Quran. It is also better for you to perform Wudu or wash the mouth before the recitation. |
| Q7. | If a female, who is teaching the Holy Quran, has Haiz or Nifas, what should she do? |
| A7. | She should teach each verse whilst breaking it into parts (breathing in between the words). There is no problem in spelling the verses for the student. |
| Q8. | What should a fasting female do if her Haiz begins just before Maghrib or if a woman gives birth just before Maghrib? |
| A8. | Her fast is nullified and she has to make up for that day (keep Qada) after Ramadaan. |
| Q9. | What should you do if your menstrual flow has stopped anytime between sunrise and sunset in the month of Ramadaan? |
| A9. | You should stop eating and drinking from that time until Maghrib (time of breaking fast). This, however, should not be considered as fasting as you have to make Qada for those days. This is only done in respect for the fasts and the sacred Month of Ramadaan. |
| Q10. | Are females allowed to take contraceptive pills to prevent menstruation during Ramadaan? |
| A10. | Yes, a female is allowed to take the pill to stop menstruation during Ramadaan as long as it does not endanger her health in any way. She should consult her parents or doctor for advice. |
| Q11. | It is a belief by some people that a female in Haiz or Nifas is not allowed to cook, to serve the food, to sit anywhere in the house, to touch item, etc. Is this correct? |
| A11. | No. This has no basis in Islam. This is all based on superstition and should be stopped. |
| Q12. | If there is impurity such as blood on the clothing, how can it be cleaned? |
| A12. | If the impurity is thick, such as blood, fasces, etc. then wash thoroughly at least three times and squeeze dry to make sure that it is clean of all impurities. However, if it takes four or five times to clean, then this must be done. If the impurity is cleaned off the first time it is Mustahab to clean it three times. |
| Q1. | What is (Istihaza)? |
| A1. | (Istihaza) is the blood that is discharged from a woman’s private part, but is not due to Haiz or Nifas. It may be due to some illness (e.g. an infection). |
| Q2. | During Istihaza, is the Salaah or fast that is missed forgiven or not? |
| A2. | Whilst a woman is in Istihaza, the Salaah and the fasting are not forgiven. She must keep Qada Salaah and fast for the missed days. |
| Q1. | What is the age of becoming an adult? |
| A1. | A female’s age is at least nine and at the most fifteen years. A male?s age is at least twelve and fifteen years at the most. It is necessary to believe a fifteen year old as an adult according to Shari?ah whether or not they show signs of adulthood. Whether a person is a male or a female, once they reach the age of adolescence, all Salaah and fasts will become obligatory on them. Girls and boys should sleep apart from the age of ten. |
| Q1. | What special care should you take when making Wudu? |
| A1. | You must with great care wash the skin above and below the lips, nails, eyes, the hair on eyelashes, eyebrows, the skin underneath jewellery and even the hole pierced in the nose. If a pinpoint of it is left dry then the Wudu will not count. If you fear that water will not pass easily over these areas, then it is better to remove such items. You should also wash your hands and feet very quickly without leaving those parts exposed for a long time. This speed should not omit any part to be washed thoroughly. Make your Wudu in a private place. Do not make Wudu in the presence of ghair-mahram, those whom Islam allows you to marry. |
| Q1. | When is it obligatory for a female to make Ghusal? |
| A1. | She should make Ghusal:-
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| Q2. | How should the body be washed in Ghusal? |
| A2. | Every single part of the body must be washed. Make sure that the water reaches all parts of the body up to and including the soles of the feet. Ensure that every strand of hair and every pore is washed, because even if only one strand of hair or it’s point equivalent remains dry, the Ghusal will not be valid. |
| Q3. | What should you do if your hair is plaited? |
| A3. | If your hair is plaited, you are excused from loosening your plaited hair but it is compulsory for you to wash the base of each and every strand of hair. If you fail to do this, then the Ghusl will not be valid. If a single strand of hair is left dry, Ghusl will not be valid. If you are unable to wet the very bottom of your plaited hair, then it is necessary for you to un-plait and wash your entire hair. It is recommended to open the plaited hair before Ghusal. |
| Q4. | Are you allowed making Ghusal while wearing rings and ear-rings? |
| A4. | No. All finger and ear-rings should be removed while bathing to allow water to pass onto the skin. There is fear that water will not pass easily over these areas if you do not remove them. |
| Q5. | When making Ghusal, what is the rule if the nose is pierced? |
| A5. | If the nose is pierced then the water must reach the hole in which the nose-ring was as this too is also necessary. |
| Q6. | Is it permissible to make Ghusal with cutex on the nails? |
| A6. | If any substances like cutex, flour, paint or gum is stuck on the skin or nails, it must be removed to allow water to pass on the skin and nails. |
| Q7. | When should the hair from under the armpits be removed? |
| A7. | One should remove all hair from under the armpits at least once a week. One should not delay the removal of hair for more than 40 days. The hair that is removed should be buried. |
| Q8. | When should the hair (pubic hair) be removed from below the navel? |
| A8. | One should remove unwanted hair at least once a week. This also should not be delayed for more than 40 days. |
| Q1. | If you become clean from Haiz or Nifas (if bleeding stops) but have no access to water, can Tayammum be performed? |
| A1. | Yes, in such circumstances one can make Tayammum and perform Salaah. |
| Q1. | How should you cover your body for Salaah? |
| A1. | The body must be completely covered except for the face, the hands including the wrists, and feet below including the ankles. |
| Q2. | How should the head be covered for Salaah? |
| A2. | It is compulsory for you to cover your head and hair, the neck and the collar (throat). If you are wearing a very thin veil over your head such that the hair’s shininess or color can be seen, then the Salaah will not be valid. |
| Q3. | What happens if a small portion of a female’s body is uncovered during Salaah? |
| A3. | In all the parts that are compulsory to cover, if one part was uncovered and was less than a quarter in proportion, then the Salaah is valid. If the opened part is a quarter in size and one is able to cover it immediately, then too the Salaah is valid. If the part was uncovered for one (Rukn), meaning the time you could say (Subhan-Allah) three times, or was uncovered deliberately and whether it was covered again immediately, the Salaah is nullified. |
| Q4. | What are the Aurat parts for a female? |
| A4. | The entire body is the Aurat for a female, except for the face, both hands until the wrists and both feet until the ankles. This is split into thirty parts of the body. These parts are:
Many Ulema have not included the back of the hands and the base of the feet as part of the Aurat. Note: Although the woman’s face is not an Aurat, it is still forbidden to expose it to foreign males or ghair-mahram, those whom Islam allows you to marry. It is also forbidden for foreign males to look at a female’s face. |
| Q5. | How should you stand on the Musallah (prayer mat) for Salaah? |
| A5. |
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| Q6. | When saying the Takbeer-e-Tahreemah or (Allahu Akbar), how high should the hands be raised? |
| A6. |
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| Q7. | After saying the Takbeer-e-Tahreemah, where should you place your hands? |
| A7. |
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| Q8. | 4. How should the Ruku be done? |
| A8. |
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| Q9. | How should you perform the Sajdah? |
| A9. |
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| Q10. | How must you sit in the Jalsa position? |
| A10. |
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| Q11. | Are women allowed to call out the Adhaan and Iqaamah for Salaah? |
| A11. | It is Makrooh-e-Tahrimi (almost Haraam) for women to call the Adhaan or Iqamaah. If a woman calls the Adhaan, she will be sinful and the Adhaan will have to be repeated by a male. |
| Q12. | When must a female not respond to the words of the Adhaan? |
| A12. | It is not Waajib for a female who has Haiz or Nifas to reply to the Adhaan. |
| Q13. | While the Adhaan is being called, what must one do? |
| A13. | Whilst the Adhaan is being called, all talking, greeting and replying to the greeting should be stopped. All other work should be stopped. Cooking or cleaning of the house should be stopped. Even the recitation of the Quran should be stopped if the sound of Adhaan is heard. You should listen to it and reply to it. The same rule applies for Iqaamah. Those who remain busy in conversation will experience a bad death. If one is walking and if one hears the sound of Adhaan, then stop, listen to it and reply to it. The Hadith Shareef has reported great virtues for one who stops all work and listens to the Adhaan. |
| Q14. | If a female who has Haiz or Nifas recited the verse of Sajdah, will it be binding on her to perform the Sajdah-e-Tilaawat? |
| A14. | It would not be necessary for her to perform the Sajdah. |
| Q15. | If a female who has Haiz or Nifas heard the verse of Sajdah, will it be necessary for her to perform the Sajdah-e-Tilaawat? |
| A15. | It is not Waajib for her to perform the Sajdah-e-Tilaawat if she hears such verse. |