Blood Because of Childbirth

“One of the two Imam, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, concerning how many days of Salah (prayer), a woman during her childbirth, does not need to perform, has said, ‘She must not perform Salah (prayer) for a number of days which is equal to the number of her Hayd (menses) free days (10 days). Thereafter she must take Ghusl (bath) and follow the rules for Istihadah (irregular menses).”

“I once said to him (the Imam) (a.s.), that the wife of ‘Abd al-Malik gave birth. He instructed her to wait for the number of days of her Hayd (menses), then instructed her to take Ghusl (bath), fill up, wear two clean clothes and perform Salah (prayer). She said, ‘My soul does not feel happy to enter the Masjid; so allow me to stay out of the Masjid and prostrate in it.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘The Messenger of Allah had issued such commandments and said, ‘Bleeding stops and she finds cleanliness,’ and Ali (a.s.), before you had issued such commandments; once bleeding stops the woman finds herself clean. What did the woman (of your companion) do?’ I replied, ‘I do not know.’” (‘Abd al-Malik mentioned is perhaps ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ’A‘yan, according to al-Dhakhirah).

‘I would, because of childbirth, wait for twenty days and they gave a fatwa to wait for eighteen days. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked, ‘Why did they give a fatwa for eighteen days?’ A man then said it is because of the Hadith from the Messenger of Allah who said to Asma’ bint ‘Umays for the birth of Muhammad ibn abu Bakr. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘Asma’ asked the Messenger of Allah after eighteen days. Had she asked before, the Messenger of Allah would ask her to take Ghusl (bath) and do what a Mustahadah is required to do.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the case of a woman who has given birth and as to when she must perform Salah (prayer). He (the Imam) said, ‘She must wait for the number of days that are equal to those of her Hayd (menses). She then must examine in two days if bleeding has stopped, otherwise, she must take Ghusl (bath), fill up herself, secure it with a belt of cloths. She must perform the morning Salah (prayer) with one Ghusl (bath), Salah (prayer) of al-Dhuhr and al-‘Asr with one Ghusl (bath) and Salah (prayer) of al-Maghrib and al-‘Isha’ with one Ghusl (bath). If blood does not pass through the cotton, she can perform Salah (prayer) with one Ghusl (bath) (everyday).’ I then asked about a woman experiencing Hayd (menses). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the same. If bleeding stops, otherwise, it is Istihadah and she must do what the woman after childbirth does. She must perform Salah (prayer) in all conditions; the Holy prophet, has said, ‘Salah (prayer) is the pillar of your religion.”’

“I heard abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), say, ‘A woman after giving birth waits for a number of days equal to those of her Hayd (menses). She then must examine, take Ghusl (bath) and perform Salah (prayer).”’

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A woman for giving birth waits for the number of days of her Hayd (menses); then she must examine in two days.’”