🕌 Worship in the home · #31
A wife has miscarried. Is the bleeding after a miscarriage counted as nifas (postnatal bleeding)?
According to the Shafi'i school, bleeding after a miscarriage counts as nifas if what was passed was already a clot or lump of flesh that experts identify as the beginning of a human being; if not, it is counted as irregular bleeding or istihadah.
The ruling matters because nifas prevents prayer, fasting and intercourse, while istihadah does not. In practice, many religious authorities in Malaysia advise consulting the doctor about the stage of pregnancy; a miscarriage after the embryo has formed (usually some weeks on) is treated as a birth and the bleeding as nifas. Once the bleeding stops, she takes the obligatory bath and resumes worship. A miscarriage is also an emotional loss; the Prophet ﷺ promised great reward for parents who lose a child and are patient. Her husband should give support and rest. Ask the state religious office about doubtful cases. See Fiqh of menstruation and Fertility.
The ruling matters because nifas prevents prayer, fasting and intercourse, while istihadah does not. In practice, many religious authorities in Malaysia advise consulting the doctor about the stage of pregnancy; a miscarriage after the embryo has formed (usually some weeks on) is treated as a birth and the bleeding as nifas. Once the bleeding stops, she takes the obligatory bath and resumes worship. A miscarriage is also an emotional loss; the Prophet ﷺ promised great reward for parents who lose a child and are patient. Her husband should give support and rest. Ask the state religious office about doubtful cases. See Fiqh of menstruation and Fertility.
Sources
Surah al-Baqarah 2:222Surah al-Mu'minun 23:14Sahih al-Bukhari 1248