Scholars’ opinions have varied in determining the minimum and maximum duration of the menstrual cycle:
The first opinion is that of the Hanafi scholars, who state that the minimum duration of menstruation is three days and their nights, while the maximum is ten days. Anything less than three days is not considered menstrual bleeding, and anything beyond ten days is considered excessive and bad blood that is not recognized religiously. A woman is not prevented from fasting, praying, or reciting the Quran during this period.
The second opinion is held by the Maliki scholars, who believe that there is no minimum limit for the duration of menstruation, while the maximum is fifteen days.
The third opinion, held by the Shafi’i and Hanbali scholars, states that the minimum duration of menstruation is one day and one night, and the maximum is fifteen days.
This is more reasonable than the opinion of the Maliki scholars, as the occurrence of bleeding from the private parts of a woman for various reasons is common, while menstruation requires a continuous characteristic for a certain period of time.
The reason for the differences is that there is no definitive text on this matter; rather, the prevalent approach is to consider the circumstances of women. These circumstances vary based on location, age, dietary habits, and other factors.
The opinion that we lean towards is the view of the Hanafi scholars, as it aligns well with observation. In most cases, women’s menstrual cycles are shorter than ten days, typically ranging from five to eight days. The shortest duration is three days, as that is the minimum for menstruation to be considered valid. Any other variations are sporadic, such as a single day or two.
Therefore, for a woman approaching the age of menopause with irregular menstrual cycles, if the bleeding lasts less than three days, it is not considered menstruation. Instead, she should adhere to the obligations that are prohibited for menstruating women. Similarly, she should not consider bleeding that extends beyond ten days as menstruation.
If the woman experiences her regular menstrual bleeding, she should refrain from performing prayers and fasting. If her bleeding stops before three days, and she does not resume menstruation, she should make up for the missed prayers and other acts of worship that she missed during that time. This is because we do not consider bleeding lasting less than three days as menstrual bleeding.
If her bleeding continues beyond three days, and the nature of the blood resembles menstrual blood, she should also refrain from prayers and other acts of worship until the bleeding reaches ten days. Any bleeding that occurs after that period is considered istihada (irregular bleeding). However, if the bleeding does not resemble menstrual blood, she should perform a ritual bath (ghusl) and continue with her prayers and fasting.
And Allah knows best.
Fatwa by Dr. Khālid Naṣr