Nor during pregnancy, …

His statement, “Nor during pregnancy,” means that there is no menstruation during pregnancy—that is, while a woman is pregnant. The evidence for this is found in the Quran and in observable experience.

As for the Quran, Allah the Exalted says:

“Divorced women shall wait by themselves for three menstrual periods.” [al-Baqarah 2:228]

And He says:

“As for your women who have despaired of menstruation, if you are in doubt, their waiting period is three months; and likewise for those who have not menstruated.” [al-Talaq 65:4]

That is, their waiting period is three months.

And He says:

“As for pregnant women, their waiting period is until they deliver their burden.” [al-Talaq 65:4]

This indicates that a pregnant woman does not menstruate; for if she did menstruate, her waiting period would be three menstrual periods, which is the waiting period of a divorced woman.

As for observable experience, it is customary that a pregnant woman does not menstruate. Imam Ahmad said: “Women recognize pregnancy only by the cessation of blood.” (1)

Some scholars said that a pregnant woman may menstruate if the blood that comes to her is the known, customary menstrual blood. (2)

They cited as evidence what we mentioned earlier: that menstruation is a harm; whenever this harm is present, its ruling is established.

As for disregarding menstruation as a basis for the waiting period in the case of a pregnant woman, this is not because the blood experienced by the woman is not menstruation, but because menstruation cannot serve as a waiting period alongside pregnancy, for pregnancy overrides everything else.