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ENTERING INTO WOMANHOOD

A Young Girl’s

Introduction to Women’s

Tahara

By Ameena bint Abdur Rahman

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www.sacredknowledgeforkids

Copyright @ Ameena Ansari

All rights reserved

Last Revised November 2014

This document is a work in progress. Please do not copy or

redistribute without written permission. It is recommended

to have 2 hours to complete this text in a classroom setting.

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In the Name of Allah

The Most Merciful, The Especially Merciful

Assalaamu Alaikum Dearest Sisters of all ages,

Contained here is a short text on the basics of the Fiqh of Menstruation

addressed to young girls.

I studied this topic briefly with Imam Tahir Anwar, and in more detail with

Ustadha Shamira Chothia Ahmed at Zaytuna Institute in Hayward,

California. Later I was honored by these teachers with permission to teach

Purity, Prayer, and Fasting.

Realizing the benefit of learning Fiqh of Menstruation from a female

teacher, I approached a local Sunday School where I had taught before, and

I was assigned to teach High School girls that semester. Later, I was invited

back to teach this topic to the (younger) 5th grade girls in a one hour class.

Ustadha Shamira's class was a 6 week long, 12 hour course. The challenge

here was to create something to the level of a 10 year old that they could

understand in one hour and immediately use. It was a blessing to continue

to have access to Ustadha Shamira and Imam Tahir so that they could

continually review the content for accuracy and give feedback.

The result is in the humble pages that follow. I pray they are accepted by

Allah subhana wa ta'ala, and they are of benefit.

Please remember me, and my teachers, without whose patience and

guidance I would be lost, in your prayers.

Wasalaamu Alaikum

Ameena Ansari (Umm Qaasim)

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ENTERING INTO WOMANHOOD

Islamically speaking, there is no such thing as adolescence.

From a child a woman emerges Masha Allah.

Having your monthly cycle (period) marks the beginning of

womanhood in Islam. You are now responsible for all your

actions and accountable for all duties to Allah (swt). If you miss

any duty, you must make it up as soon as you remember.

If you have questions about anything go to your parents. If they

cannot answer, Insha Allah they will find the answer for you

from a person of knowledge. Remember that no one loves or

cares for you more than your parents.

You (or your parents) are always welcome to email me with any

questions:

Ameena Ansari (Umm Qaasim)

http://www.sacredknowledgeforkids.com/contact.html

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THIS BOOKLET

Insha Allah this booklet will serve as an introduction to your

monthly cycle and how it affects your worship.

Why study menstruation (your period/monthly cycle)?

It affects our Tahara (purity for worship), and therefore

our Ibadah (worship).

It marks the age of maturity, the beginning of the age of

accountability for our actions. You need to be prepared

from the first day.

CONTENT BRIEFLY COVERS:

Physical Definition of Menstruation……………………………………… 6

Islamic Definition of Menstruation…………………………..…………… 7

Includes: How long a cycle lasts

How to know your cycle has started.

How to know your cycle has ended.

How to Worship Allah during your cycle ……………………….………. 9

Includes: Acts that are prohibited and recommended

Prayer and Fasting and how it relates to your cycle ………….…. 10

How to purify yourself for worship when your cycle is over.... 13

Female Discharge and Grooming ……………………………….………... 14

References ………………………………………………………………………..… 15

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PHYSICAL DEFINITION OF MENSTRUATION

What is menstruation?

Menstruation means a girl’s body is physically capable of

becoming pregnant. Each month, one of the ovaries releases an

egg. This is called ovulation. At the same time, hormonal

changes prepare the uterus for pregnancy. If ovulation takes

place and the egg isn’t fertilized, the lining of the uterus sheds

through the vagina. This is called a period (or monthly cycle).

Where does the blood come from?

Your private parts have 3 openings: Your urine comes from the

urethra (toward the front), menstrual blood from your vagina

(in the middle) and feces from your anus (in the back).

Is the blood always red?

No. It can be bright or dark red, yellow, muddy, green, black or

earthy color.

Does it hurt?

Many girls have cramps typically in the lower abdomen, when

their cycles begin. Cramps can be dull and achy or sharp and

intense. Exercise (gentle), a heating pad, or an over the counter

pain reliever may help ease any discomfort.

When will it happen?

No one can tell exactly when a girl will get her first cycle.

Usually sometime between 9 and 15. Typically, however, girls

begin menstruation about two years after their breasts begin to

develop. Many girls experience a thin, white vaginal discharge

about one year before menstruation begins.

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LAWS OF MENSTRUATION

Islamic Definition of Menstruation:

Menstruation is blood from the womb of a mature female that

is not the result of any illness, pregnancy, or that is post-

menopausal.

Types of blood that come from the vagina.

English Term Arabic Term Definition

Menstruation حَيْض - Hayd Monthly blood

Postnatal Bleeding نِفَاس - Nifas Blood that comes

after having a baby

Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Istihada إِسْتِحَاضَةBlood that is neither

of the above

How long does the monthly cycle last?

It must last at least 3 days to be considered your cycle, and no

longer than 10 days. Each day is a 24-hours. So the minimum

menstruation timeframe is 72 hours.

How long in between my cycles?

The timeframe between your cycles is called the duration of

purity (tuhr) and it is minimum 15 days. If you see blood again

after your cycle ends, and less than 15 days have passed, it’s not

considered your cycle.

Minimum Days

Maximum Days

Menstruation 3 10

Between Cycles 15 None

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How do I know it started?

You know your cycle has started as soon as you SEE the blood.

How do I know it’s over?

When you no longer see ANY colored discharge.

What color discharge is considered my cycle?

Any color that is not clear or white (or your normal color). It can

be bright or dark red, yellow, muddy, green, black or earthy

color.

Note: A girl below the age of (9 lunar years= 8 solar

years, 8 months and 3 weeks) does not menstruate. If a

girl this age notices blood it is not considered to be her

cycle, but due to some illness.

Note: It is Makruh to insert anything into the vaginal

opening. Do not use tampons.

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HOW TO WORSHIP ALLAH DURING YOUR CYCLE

PROHIBITED ACTS OF WORSHIP

Prayer

Fasting

Recitation of Quran (even a translation)

Touching the Quran (even a translation)

Entering the Prayer Area of the Masjid

Tawaf of the Holy Kaaba

SOME ALLOWED ACTS OF WORSHIP

Listening to Quran, or reading Quran with your

eyes only

Salawaat on the Prophet(s)

Asking (or reading) duas

Doing Dhikr

Reading Hadith

Studying or reading any Islamic literature

Note: These particular acts are mentioned because

usually women are not sure if they can do them or not.

There are more things you can do. You can actually do

anything except what is listed as “prohibited”.

RECOMMENDED ACTS OF WORSHIP

To perform ablution (wudhu) at the time of prayer

To sit where you normally sit for prayer and do

dhikr

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PRAYERS & FASTING

So if I get my cycle, what do I do about my prayers?

Once you see blood, you should note the time in your own

personal calendar. Also note the time it ends. You will not pray

or fast until your cycle is over.

Do I have to make up my prayers?

No, whatever prayers you miss due to your cycle are forgiven.

What if I haven’t prayed Dhuhr or some other prayer yet, and

my cycle starts?

You don’t need to make up that prayer, it is forgiven.

What’s the calendar for?

It is Wajib (necessary) to keep a calendar. This is a very good

habit in case your cycle changes over the years. In the

beginning, your cycles may not be “regular”. Meaning they may

not start exactly every 28 days. By keeping a calendar, you will

know EXACTLY when you got your cycle and when it ended. We

mentioned earlier that if the bleeding is less than 3 days for

example, then it is not considered your cycle. 3 days is exactly

72 hours. So you need to know the TIME you started your cycle,

so you can calculate exactly 72 hours if you need to. It also

helps you remember how many fasts you need to make up.

Okay, but how do I know which prayer I need to do when my

cycle ends?

When your cycle ends, note the time and do ghusl, whatever

prayer time it is, you pray that prayer. For example if your cycle

ends and you do ghusl and it’s ‘Asr time, you would pray ‘Asr.

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But what if my cycle ends right before ‘Asr ends for example?

Insha Allah it shouldn’t take you longer than 10 minutes to do

ghusl and stand for the opening takbir. This 10 minutes

includes: entering the bathroom, taking off your clothes,

wetting your whole body including your belly button, the hair to

the roots(scalp), rinsing your mouth and nose, putting on your

clothes, standing on your prayer mat, and saying the opening

takbir. So if it takes you 10 minutes to do this, and your cycle

ends 10 minutes before the ‘Asr prayer time ends(for example),

you should do the ghusl right away and “catch” the ‘Asr prayer.

If your cycle ends 10 minutes before ‘Asr and you DO NOT do

ghusl right away and pray, and ‘Asr ends, this is sinful as you

missed prayer due to laziness! You will have to make up ‘Asr.

What if it takes me 10 minutes to do ghusl and stand for

prayer, but my cycle ends 5 minutes before ‘Asr ends?

Then you are not responsible for ‘Asr and you do not have to

make it up. You are forgiven for that prayer.

What if I think I’ve stopped bleeding, did my ghusl and I start

bleeding again?

If this is a routine issue for you, toward the end of your period,

it is recommended to wait until the end of the prayer time

before checking. This is to avoid becoming preoccupied with

checking for bleeding. About 1 hour and 15 minutes (or the

time it takes to do ghusl), before the end of the prayer time,

place a very small cloth, or small piece of paper towel, against

the vaginal opening (not inside). Use something that will not

fall apart but will absorb the moisture from the vaginal opening.

Then 15 minutes (or the time it takes to do ghusl) before the

end of the prayer time if the cloth has no color, do ghusl and

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pray. If it does have color, repeat the process at the end of the

next prayer time, and so on.

What about Fasting and my cycle?

If you ARE fasting in Ramadan, and your cycle starts,

that fast will not count for you and you will need to

make it up. You should eat or drink something, and are

allowed to eat and drink the rest of that day, and all

days until your cycle is over.

If you are NOT fasting in Ramadan because you have

your cycle, and then your cycle ends, you would take a

shower (ghusl), and stop eating and drinking for the

normal hours of fasting. Again this fast will not count

for you and you will need to make it up. And of course

you would begin to pray at the proper times right after

the ghusl.

Do I have to make up the missed fasts?

YES! If you miss fasts in Ramadan, you must make them up as

soon as possible. Don’t wait! Insha Allah if you make them up

right after Ramadan, you will never have any outstanding fasts.

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HOW TO PURIFY YOURSELF (for worship)

ONCE YOUR CYCLE IS OVER

Complete and Perfect Ghusl according to the Sunnah of

Rasulallah(s):

Say the Basmallah and make an intention

Wash your hands

Wash your private parts

Make wudhu

Rinse your head 3 times. Water must go to the roots of

the hair

Rinse and rub right side of body 3 times

Rinse and rub left side of body 3 times

Minimum Acts of Ghusl:

Why not start taking every shower this way TODAY?

Wet your entire body and scalp (every inch.. including

belly button and roots of the hair!)

Rinse your mouth

Rinse your nose

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Additional notes on entering womanhood:

FEMALE DISCHARGE

Sometimes I have a discharge that isn’t clear or white, is that my period? No, your period on average lasts about a week. Discharge is the substance that exits the vagina on your regular days. If your discharge is yellowish or has color (not clear or white), it DOES break your wudhu, and it IS impure. So whenever you have colored discharge, you need to refresh your wudhu and remove any colored discharge from your body and clothing. The easiest way to keep your clothing clean is to wear a liner and change it after washing yourself. Talk with your mother if your discharge suddenly has a very strong odor or suddenly appears different. This could be a sign of infection.

GROOMING

Is it true that we are required to remove armpit and pubic

hair?

It is recommended to pluck the armpit and pubic hairs every 7

days. It is permitted to delay to 15 days, beyond 40 days is

sinful.

Do you have to pluck the hairs or can we use other means to

remove them?

If you cannot pluck them for fear of harm, you can use electric

beard trimmers, wax, hair removal creams, sugaring, or

threading.

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SOURCES OF INFORMATION

used for this booklet

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/menstruation/FL00

040/NSECTIONGROUP=2

Laws of Menstruation, Postnatal Bleeding, and

Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding, by Mufti Abdur Rahman

ibn Yusuf & Ustadha Rashida Esakjee

Note: “The Laws of Menstruation” is 17 pages and a

printable version is available at zamzamacademy.com.

It is highly recommended for further reading.