Real questions. Real answers.

If bleeding continues beyond 15 days, it is considered istihada (irregular bleeding / disease) and NOT haidh. A woman in istihada must perform ghusl, pray normally and fast. She should seek medical advice. The Prophet ﷺ gave specific guidance to Fatimah bint Abi Hubaish (RA) regarding istihada.

Importantly — she does NOT need to make up the missed prayers after her period ends. This is a mercy from Allah. Aisha (RA) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ was asked about this and confirmed: women are not required to make up prayers missed during menstruation.

Ibn Taymiyyah (rh) held that there is no authentic hadees that explicitly forbids women from reciting Quran during menstruation. He permitted it. Sheikh Ibn Baz, Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen and many modern scholars also permit recitation from memory. All scholars agree that touching the physical Mushaf is not permitted during haidh without a barrier (like a cover or cloth).

The ghusl involves: making the intention (niyyah), saying Bismillah, washing the entire body including washing the hair roots, and ensuring water reaches every part of the body. After completing ghusl, she resumes all acts of worship normally. If the period ends at night before Fajr, she must complete ghusl and may fast the next day — even if she could not complete ghusl until after Fajr time began, she should still fast that day.

The Hanafi school mentions some differences in posture for women for reasons of modesty (e.g. keeping the feet together, less space between limbs). However, many contemporary scholars including Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen state that there is no authentic specific hadees that proves women's prayer differs fundamentally from men's. Women are encouraged to pray in a way that is modest and comfortable. Women can lead other women in prayer — this is agreed upon by the majority of scholars.

Women have the right to pray in the masjid — the Prophet ﷺ explicitly said "Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from going to the masjid." Both statements are authentic. Praying at home earns more reward for women, but attending the masjid is permissible and was practised by the women of the Companions (RA).

A woman must cover her entire body except the face and hands during prayer. If any part of the body that must be covered is exposed during prayer — even unintentionally — the prayer is invalidated if she was aware of it. If she forgot or did not know, most scholars say the prayer is still valid.

These missed Ramadan fasts must be made up (qadha) after Ramadan ends — before the next Ramadan. She has the entire year to make up missed fasts. She does not pay any kaffarah (expiation) for these missed days — making them up is sufficient. This is a mercy from Allah, not a punishment.

Aisha (RA) said: "We would miss fasts during the time of the Prophet ﷺ and we would not be able to make them up except in Sha'ban" — meaning she would sometimes delay until Sha'ban (the month before Ramadan). This shows it is permissible to delay within the year, but not beyond. If a woman delays making up fasts past the following Ramadan without a valid excuse, she must fast the missed days AND give fidya (feeding one poor person per day). If she had a valid excuse (illness, pregnancy, breastfeeding), she only needs to fast — no fidya.

The concession for pregnant and breastfeeding women is based on the general Islamic principle: "Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:286). Scholars differ on what is required when she breaks her fast — some say she only needs to make up the days (qadha), others say she also needs to pay fidya. The majority position (Shafi'i, Hanbali) is that she pays fidya as well if she feared for her baby but not herself. She should consult a doctor and a reliable scholar.

She is given the same concession as a pregnant woman. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah has removed from the traveller half of the prayer and the fast, and from the pregnant and breastfeeding woman the fast." (Ahmad, Abu Dawud — Hasan hadees). She must make up the missed fasts. The requirement for fidya in addition to qadha is disputed — consult a scholar. She should not feel guilty for taking this concession — it is halal and a mercy from Allah.

This is important because: if it is NOT haidh, the woman must continue to pray and fast normally. If she follows the Hanafi position (that it may be haidh), she stops prayer and fasting during bleeding. A woman should follow the ruling of a qualified scholar she trusts. The safer position for peace of mind may be to follow the majority — continue praying and fasting during pregnancy bleeding.

During nifas: prayer, fasting, marital relations, entering the masjid and performing tawaf are all suspended — exactly the same rules as haidh. If bleeding stops before 40 days, she performs ghusl and resumes all worship immediately. If bleeding continues past 40 days, it is treated as istihada and she must resume prayer and fasting. She must make up all fasts missed during nifas. She does not make up prayers.

If breastfeeding continues for two years and she misses fasts across two Ramadans, she accumulates all missed fasts and makes them up as her situation allows. There is no penalty for genuine inability to make up fasts quickly, as long as she has the intention and makes them up as soon as she is able. If she is still breastfeeding when the next Ramadan arrives, scholars permit her to continue the concession and continue accumulating qadha fasts.

Steps of ghusl:
1. Make the intention (niyyah) in your heart
2. Say Bismillah
3. Wash both hands three times
4. Wash private parts
5. Perform full wudu
6. Pour water over the head three times, massaging to reach the roots
7. Pour water over the right side of the body, then the left
8. Ensure every part — including under arms, behind ears, navel, hair roots — is reached by water

It is sunnah to use a piece of cotton or cloth scented with musk to clean the traces of blood (as the Prophet ﷺ advised Asma bint Shakal RA).

Umm Salamah (RA) asked the Prophet ﷺ whether she needed to undo her braids for ghusl after menstruation and after intercourse. He said she only needed to ensure water reached the roots. For ghusl after intercourse (janabah), she does not need to undo braids. This is a specific mercy — undoing long plaited hair every time would be very difficult.

The Prophet ﷺ was asked whether a person could sleep in a state of janabah. He said yes — after performing wudu. Making wudu before sleeping in a state of janabah is sunnah. This applies equally to women. The key obligation is to perform ghusl before the time of prayer that requires it.