regarding a woman experiencing prolonged non-menstrual bleeding. There were about seventeen women who experienced such bleeding during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ (1), and it is not unlikely that a woman’s established pattern may shift from the beginning of the month to its middle because of the condition of prolonged bleeding that has arisen in her.
- Distinguishing characteristics are an evident and clear sign, so recourse should be made to them.
The preponderant view, however, is that she returns to her established pattern, especially since the authenticity of the hadith mentioning distinguishing characteristics has been disputed.
It is also easier and more reliable for the woman, because this black, malodorous, or thick blood may become irregular, change, shift to the end or beginning of the month, or occur intermittently—being black one day and red the next.
His statement, “If she forgets it, she acts according to the valid distinguishing characteristics,” means: if she forgets her established pattern.
Valid distinguishing characteristics are those that can properly be deemed menstruation: they must not fall short of its minimum duration or exceed its maximum duration.
For example, a woman forgets her established pattern and does not know whether it was at the beginning of