that has congealed, or a piece of flesh that is not of human origin. Where there is such uncertainty, it is not deemed postnatal bleeding, because postnatal bleeding entails rulings, including exemption from prayer and fasting and her husband’s being prohibited from intercourse with her. Such rulings cannot be set aside except on the basis of something certain; and we cannot be certain until the features of a human being become discernible in it.

The earliest time at which human features may become discernible is eighty-one days, based on the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, which states: “For forty days he is a drop of semen, then a blood clot for the same length of time” (1).

These make eighty days. He then said: “Then a lump of flesh,” which lasts forty days and begins on the eighty-first day.

Thus, if she miscarries before eighty days have elapsed, there is no postnatal bleeding, and the blood is treated as irregular bleeding.

If she gives birth at eighty-one days, it must be ascertained whether it is formed or unformed, for Allah has divided the lump of flesh into formed and unformed, saying: “a formed lump and an unformed lump” [al-Hajj 22:5]. It is therefore possible that it may not be formed.

Usually, once the pregnancy has reached ninety days, human features become discernible. Accordingly, if she delivers at ninety days, it is generally regarded as postnatal bleeding. After ninety days, it becomes increasingly certain that it is a child and that the blood is postnatal bleeding; before ninety days, verification is required.

A woman may give birth without seeing any blood, though this is very rare. In that case, she does not refrain from prayer for the duration of postnatal bleeding. Thus, if she gives birth at sunrise and enters