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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Ritual Ablutions for Women Istihazah - The Irregular Bleeding Definition Of Istihazah You have come across the word istihazah many 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 istihazah means 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: Istihazah usually has the following four signs: it is cool, yellow in colour, thin in substance, and 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. Three Types Of Istihazah By considering the amount of blood in istihazah, it is divided into three categories: Qalilah, Mutawassitah and Kathirah. 1.

Qalilah = Slight Bleeding : The discharge which stains the cotton but does not penetrate into it. 2. Mutawassitah = Medium Bleeding: The discharge which penetrates into the cotton but does not flow out from it. 3. Kathirah = Profuse Bleeding: The discharge which penetrates into the cotton and flows out from it. In istihazah it is possible for the discharge to change from one level to another; for example, in the beginn­ing it was qalfiah and then it became kathirah, or vice verse.

It is obvious that if a mustahazah woman wants to follow the rules of istihazah, she must examine herself to determine whether she is qallah, mutawassitah or kathirah. The Prayers Of The Mustahazah Istihazah is a najasat (impurity) which is different from hayz. The woman in istihazah is not exempted from prayers. She has to pray, but the validity of her prayers depends on fulfilling the acts which are required of her.