four months and ten days, and He knows that most women menstruate once each month. Postnatal bleeding, on the other hand, is uncommon, and it is a condition in which the one who has sworn an oath of abstinence would naturally have no inclination toward his wife while she is experiencing postnatal bleeding and blood. Even so, the issue is not free of scholarly disagreement (1).

Another difference is this: if a woman whose usual menstrual period is six days becomes completely pure for four days—day and night—and then the blood returns for the remainder of her usual period, namely one day and one night, it is menstruation. In the case of postnatal bleeding, however, if it returns within the prescribed period, its status is doubtful. This is according to the madhhab.

Another difference, though it is contrary to the madhhab, is that divorce during menstruation is forbidden. Is it nevertheless valid? There is scholarly disagreement over this (2).

In the case of postnatal bleeding, according to the madhhab, it is likewise forbidden, as the author states: “It is like menstruation with respect to what is lawful and unlawful.” This is because the Prophet ﷺ said to Umar: “Tell him to divorce her when she is pure, or pregnant” (3), and a woman experiencing postnatal bleeding is not pure.

The correct view is that it is not forbidden.

The evidence for this is that divorce during menstruation was prohibited because it is a divorce not in accordance with the waiting period. Allah Most High says:

“O Prophet! When you divorce women, divorce them for their waiting period.” [al-Talaq 65:1]

Thus, if he divorces her while she is menstruating, then the remainder of this