When does a woman who just gave birth start counting her menstruation (Haidh) from? 

Q. My wife gave birth to our first child. My wife has been bleeding for forty days since she gave birth. I am aware that there should be a clean period of fifteen days after each Haidh. Does my wife have to have a clean period of fifteen days after bleeding from child birth to count her next Haidh? Or does she count her Haidh after Forty days immediately?

A. In principle, the maximum period of Nifaas (post-natal bleeding) is Forty days while there is no minimum limit to it. The same rules that apply to a women in Haidh (menstruation) apply to a woman in Nifaas (post-natal bleeding).

In the enquired situation, if a woman experiences Nifaas (post-natal bleeding) for Forty days, she will have to wait for a minimum period of Fifteen days before she counts her next Haidh cycle. Therefore, since your wife has experienced Nifaas (post-natal bleeding) for Forty days, she will have to wait for a minimum period of Fifteen days before she counts her next Haidh cycle. If she spots any blood during the fifteen days period, it would be regarded as Istihaadhah (chronic discharge) and all the laws of Istihaadhah will apply. (Shaami 1/285)

Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

themufti.com