Rafed English

Definition of Istihazah

You have come across the word istihazahmany times in the first part of this book. In this part we shall ex­clusively discuss about istihazah.

Istahadah is usually translated as "irregular menstruation". But this translation is incorrect, because it may create a confusion with muztaribah = "a woman whose menstrual pattern is irregular"; and also because istihazah is not menstruation at all. In Islamic terminology istihazahmeans any blood discharged from women which is not from menstruation, loss of virginity, post­natal bleeding or internal injury. The woman who has istihazah is known as mustahazah.

The signs: Istihazahusually has the following four signs:

1. it is cool,
2. yellow in colour,
3. thin in substance, and
4. it is discharged without pressure or burning sensation.

All these signs are opposite the signs of menstruation.

Although these are the signs which usually appear in istihazah, sometimes it is quite possible for it to ap­pear without some or all of them.

Unlike hayz, there is no minimum or maximum limit for the discharge of istihazah. Neither is there any specific time in a woman's life-time during which it appears -it can come before a girl becomes nine years old and after a woman has entered the age of menopause. Nor is there a minimum duration between the occurance of two istihazah.

Adopted from the book : "The Ritual Ablutions for Women (Taharatu N-Nisa')" by : "Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi"

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