Chapter: The Womb-Clearing Period (istibrāʾ) for Female Slaves
It is obligatory in three situations:
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If a man—even a minor—acquires ownership of a female slave with whom intercourse is normally possible. This applies even when he receives her from a child owner or a woman, even though the seller has already observed her womb-clearing period, or when he has sold or gifted his own slave-girl and she later returns to him through annulment or any other cause. Whenever ownership changes hands, it is unlawful for him to seek any sexual enjoyment from her— even a kiss—until he has completed her istibrāʾ.
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If he owns a slave-girl, has had intercourse with her, and then wishes to marry her off or sell her before istibrāʾ. Both actions are forbidden. Should he disregard the ruling, the sale is valid but the marriage is not. If he has not had intercourse with her, either step is permissible.
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If he emancipates his slave-girl, manumits the mother of his child, or dies, she must observe istibrāʾ herself if it has not already been carried out.
Section
The womb-clearing period for a pregnant woman ends with delivery; for one who menstruates, with a single menstrual cycle; for a post-menopausal woman, a minor, or an adult3 who has never menstruated, it is one month; for the woman whose menses have stopped and she does not know why, it is ten4 months; and for the one who knows the cause of their cessation, it is fifty years and one month.