<Home> <Bioethics> <Obstetrics and Gynaecology> <The Peurperium>

NIFAS - The Puerperium

This refers to the blood coming out per vaginam following the conclusion of a pregnancy whether by birth or miscarriage. The same rulings concerning menstruation apply also to the puerpera. The duration of nifas is quite variable. It might be very shortt in which case the woman would take the tuhr bath as soon as the blood stopSt resume her prayers and may I fast and do tawaf. Marital relations may be then resumed. If nifas continues for more than forty days this is taken as the upper limitt and she should take a bath and resume prayer. If the bleeding recurs after this, prayer should not be discontinued and the regulations of the 'mustahada' are followed.

The hadith of the prophet about nifas is relayed as an answer to Umm-Salama who asked: "'How long would a woman stay (without prayer) after child birth?" The prophet said  "Forty days unless she clears up before."  (Darokotmy)