nor distinguishing signs. Or she may have an established habit but have forgotten it, and have no distinguishing signs. Such a woman should follow the usual pattern of women: six or seven days, beginning from the time when her menstruation first came to her. Thus, if it is assumed that she first saw this blood on the fifteenth of the month, we say: Whenever the fifteenth of the month arrives, she should refrain from prayer for six or seven days. If she says, “I have forgotten when the bleeding first came to me,” we say: She should follow the beginning of the lunar month; whenever the month begins, she should refrain from prayer for six or seven days, and pray during the remainder.

We have mentioned this as a digression; otherwise, this is not the place for a detailed discussion of irregular bleeding and menstruation.

His statement, “the irregularly bleeding woman who has forgotten [her habit],” apparently includes, according to the author’s wording, even one who has distinguishing signs, since he stated it without qualification. However, this apparent meaning is not intended. If the irregularly bleeding woman who has forgotten her habit has distinguishing signs, she observes a waiting period of three menstrual cycles, because she has a valid menstruation. So long as she has distinguishing signs, she observes three menstrual cycles according to those signs. Suppose that this woman with irregular bleeding experiences the distinct menstrual blood once every two months; her waiting period would then be six months. Thus, concerning the author’s statement—may Allah have mercy on him—“the irregularly bleeding woman who has forgotten [her habit],” we should say: provided that she has no distinguishing signs. If she does have distinguishing signs, then her waiting period is three menstrual cycles, like that of other women, because distinguishing signs are regarded as a valid menstruation.

His statement, “the newly irregularly bleeding woman,” refers to the woman whose bleeding continued from the very first time it came to her, because she has no previous established habit. Her waiting period is therefore three months.

His statement, “three months”: this is despite her being irregularly bleeding, because women generally menstruate once each month, whereas this woman has irregular bleeding and no menstruation.