Q: Does a pregnant woman menstruate or not? I have read a Hadtih that was narrated by
`Aishah
(may Allah be pleased with her) stating that the pregnant woman does not menstruate. However, I found another Hadith, that was also narrated by
`Aishah
in which she said, “If the pregnant woman sees blood, she must leave Salah (prayer)”, which opinion is the stronger?
A:
All praise be to Allah Alone, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, and his family and Companions.
The Fuqaha’ (Muslim jurists) have differed as to whether a pregnant woman menstruates or not. However, the more correct of the two opinions is that she does not menstruate during her pregnancy. This is because Allah (Exalted be He) has made the ‘Iddah (woman’s prescribed waiting period after divorce or widowhood) of a divorced woman the passing of three consecutive menstruating periods to ensure that she is not pregnant. Thus, if the normal state had been the menstruation of the pregnant woman, Allah would not have stipulated menstruation as a waiting period to verify that there is no pregnancy. (Part No. 5; Page No. 393) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.