According to the latter definition, this includes a woman newly experiencing menstruation whose bleeding exceeds a day and a night, for it is neither menstruation nor postnatal bleeding. It is therefore irregular bleeding until it recurs, as mentioned above.

According to the first definition, it is corrupt blood, and it must be considered whether it is to be treated as menstruation or as irregular bleeding.

His statement, “and others in similar circumstances,” means: those like her. What is intended is anyone whose state of ritual impurity is ongoing, such as a person suffering from urinary or fecal incontinence; their ruling is the same as that of a woman experiencing irregular bleeding.

His statement, “She washes her private parts,” means with water. Merely cleaning them with tissues and the like is not sufficient; rather, they must be washed until the blood is removed.

If washing harms her, or doctors determine that it would do so, then she should dry it with something dry, such as tissues and the like, due to His saying, “Do not kill yourselves” [Surah al-Nisa 4:29], and His saying, “Do not throw yourselves into destruction with your own hands” [Surah al-Baqarah 2:195].

A person suffering from urinary incontinence washes his private parts, whereas one suffering from uncontrollable passing of wind does not wash them, because wind is not impure.

The evidence that she must wash her private parts is the Prophet’s statement, peace and blessings be upon him, to Fatimah bint Abi Hubaysh: “Wash the blood from yourself and pray” (1). This shows that it must be washed.

His statement, “and she binds it,” means that she secures it with a cloth. This is called talajjum (binding it like a bridle) and istithfar (securing a cloth between the thighs).