باسم الله، والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله

May Allah reward everyone who seeks clarity regarding the matters of their faith. Ameen.

After giving birth, it’s normal for a woman to bleed. In Islamic law, this bleeding is called nifās (postpartum bleeding).

Regarding the fiqh of this type of bleeding, most scholars agree that any blood, spotting, or yellowish discharge that appears within the first 40 days after childbirth is considered nifās.

During this time, prayer and fasting are paused. However, if the bleeding stops earlier, then nifās ends early. Meaning, it doesn’t have to reach 40 days.

The real discussion, however, starts after day 40, as scholars have differed as to the number of days that nifās lasts.

The Closest and Strongest View

The opinion that is closest and strongest is that nifās does not go beyond 40 days. Once day 40 passes, nifās ends, even if bleeding continues.

At that point, a woman should take ghusl (bath) and return to prayer, fasting, and normal daily worship.

If her bleeding continues however, then it will no longer be considered nifās. Instead, it is treated as irregular bleeding (istiḥāḍah). The only exception is if the bleeding lines up exactly with her usual menstrual cycle. in that case, it would count as a period bleeding (haydh).

This 40-day position is the view of the Ḥanafī and Ḥanbalī schools, and it is the position considered strongest. And Allah knows best.

The other scholarly view

Some scholars held that nifās can last up to 60 days. This opinion is found in the Shāfiʿī and Mālikī schools.

That said, many of the scholars of these schools still acknowledged that most women naturally stop bleeding around 40 days, not 60.

So while the opinion exists, it is not the dominant practice.

Why is 40 days the stronger view specifically?

The strongest evidence comes from the hadith of Umm Salama.

She said that women who gave birth during the time of the Prophet ﷺ would stop praying for forty days and forty nights.

(Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi)

In another narration, when the Prophet ﷺ was asked how long a woman should remain after childbirth, he replied, “Forty days, unless she becomes pure before that.”

(Sunan al-Daraqutni)

In addition, many companions followed this understanding, and later scholars pointed out that no opposing view was known among them at that time.

Because of this, scholars like Imaam al-Tirmidhi described it as a consensus of early Muslims.

What If Bleeding Continues?

If bleeding continues after 40 days, the ruling is simple. If it falls during her normal period days, it is treated as menstruation. If it doesn’t, then it’s considered irregular bleeding from the perspective of Islamic Law.

In that case, she prays, fasts, and lives normally, with minor adjustments like making wudu for each prayer (see the ruling on istiḥāḍah).

In Conclusion

There is scholarly disagreement on the topic, but the 40-day limit for nifās is the strongest and most widely practised view. It’s supported by hadith, the actions of the companions, and the majority of early scholars.

And Allah knows best.

Sh. Dr. Sajid Umar

12/07/1447 (AH) - 01/01/2026